Porepunkah police shooting: The final moments

Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart were killed by Dezi Freeman in August 2025. Now, the Victorian state coroner has shared new details about their final moments.  Wodonga reporter Ashlee Aldridge was one of the first reporters on the ground in Porepunkah when the officers were killed. She pieces together the events based on the coroner’s information and her own recollection of that day.  PLUS: We’ve got the latest on Erin Patterson’s appeal against her three murder convictions, likely to be heard later this year. More detail is available in our episode Mushroom Lunch: Erin Patterson’s appeal explained. (https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/the-case-of/mushroom-lunch-erin-pattersons-appeal-explained/105984404)  If you have any questions you’d like Ashlee and Stocky to answer in future episodes, please email [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) .    The Case Of is the follow-up to the hit podcast Mushroom Case Daily, and all episodes of that show will remain available in the back catalogue of The Case Of.  The Case Of is the follow-up to the hit podcast Mushroom Case Daily, and all episodes of that show will remain available in the back catalogue of The Case Of.