Sovereign citizens LIVING OUTSIDE THE LAW

WITH THE MOVEMENT GROWING, WE ASK WHO ARE THEY?

- By Sarah Marinos

Almost two months have passed since police officers Neal Thompson and Vadim De Waart were killed in Victoria's High Country, as they searched a ramshackle property belonging to Desmond 'Dezi' Freeman. They were executing a warrant when Freeman, 56, allegedly opened fire. The self-proclaimed sovereign citizen, who is still on the run, is one of a growing number of Australians who refuse to recognise the law and are anti-government, anti-authority and anti-police.

In December 2022, two other police officers were killed at a rural property in Wieambilla in Queensland while responding to a missing person's report. Constables Rachel McCrow and Matthew Arnold were ambushed at the property of conspiracy theorists Gareth, Nathaniel and Stacey Train.