UPDATE: Inside The ‘Dezi Freeman’ Inquest & The New Courtroom Revelations

The Melbourne Coroner's Court has opened two unprecedented inquests into the 2025 murders of Victorian police officers Vadim Devart-Hattar and Neil Thompson, and the subsequent death of suspect Desmond Philby in a March 2026 standoff. For the first time, the public and families heard harrowing details: Philby was not only accused of sexual assault on a child under 16 but also of attempting to involve a minor in the production of child abuse material—allegations that triggered the search warrant. What unfolded was a 34-minute negotiation before Philby shot Neil Thompson first, then Vadim, before returning to both bodies to shoot them again and hurling vicious taunts. In a chilling final act, he sent his wife a text: 'Beb, get a mile away and keep going. See you in heaven, love.' The inquest also revealed that Philby had no active firearms licences, despite being armed, and that police arrived without body-worn cameras—relying instead on aerial footage and a 23-minute recording Philby himself made on his phone. With the first inquest not expected until March 2027, families face another year of waiting and re-traumatization, highlighting the emotional toll of prolonged coronial processes. The episode underscores a painful paradox: while the legal system seeks truth and prevention, the victims’ families endure a second trauma each time new details emerge.