Close friend says he thought fugitive had died seven months ago

Freeman was shot dead by special operations police at a remote property near Walwa about 8.30am after he emerged wearing a blanket and brandishing a stolen gun.

The fugitive’s close friend Bruce Evans said he had not heard from the double police killer since he escaped into dense bushland after shooting dead two police officers in the Victorian high country on August 26.

Evans told 9News he had speculated whether Freeman had been killed “on day one” by police.

“It’s a very sad for all of the family, not a good day,” he said.

“I thought he was actually dead to be honest, but obviously I was wrong.

“He was facing life imprisonment or going out in a blaze of glory I suppose, and he chose the latter by the sounds of it.”

Evans said he did not condone Freeman’s actions in Porepunkah but believed the fugitive was “pretty fearless” and was not shocked his fate was sealed in another shooting.

“It’s not surprising to me that it went down this way in the end,” he said.

“He’s not the sort of guy that backs down, you know.”

Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush earlier today said officers “acted appropriately” during today’s police operation.

“Everything I have seen, everything I have been briefed on, tells me that our officers acted appropriately,” Bush said.

“It’s quite clear to us now that the deceased was given every opportunity to resolve this peacefully and did not take that option.

“I have seen video of the deceased leaving the building and presenting a firearm at our officers.

“That action took away any discretion our officers had to resolve this peacefully.”

Evans said he was not surprised by reports police were led to Freeman’s hideout by a tip-off from one of the self-described sovereign citizen’s associates.

“You dangle a million dollars in front of people and there’s going to be a lot of people that take that sort of money,” Evans said.

“You couldn’t hide forever. It’s always going to get out somehow.”

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