Link revealed between cop killer Freeman and MP attack suspect

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 27 Oct, 05:50 · Archive

A landlord in Australia has confirmed knowing both deceased cop killer Dezi Freeman and Brendan Nugent, accused of hitting MP Helen Haines.

Rebecca Swift, a landlord in Porepunkah, has revealed a connection between two men at the centre of recent incidents in Australia. In a YouTube video, Ms Swift confirmed that she knows both Dezi Freeman, a cop killer shot dead by police in May, and Brendan Nugent, who is accused of attacking MP Helen Haines.

Ms Swift said she was Freeman's landlord while he lived on a bus on her property with his wife and two children. Freeman was shot dead during a stand-off with police following seven months on the run over the shooting deaths of two police officers who were executing a search warrant at his home.

In the three-minute video published on an account called The Freeman Files, Ms Swift described her statement as a 'media cease and desist' message and urged journalists not to publish defamatory details about her connection to both men. 'Yes, I know both of them,' she said. She expressed shock and sadness at the attack on Dr Haines but did not elaborate on her link to Nugent.

Nugent is facing three charges relating to the alleged attack on Dr Haines: intentionally causing serious injury, dangerous driving causing serious injury, and causing harm to a Commonwealth public official. He is also facing two unrelated drugs charges.

How it is being reported

• Dezi Freeman’s former landlord reveals connection to man accused of hitting MP Helen HainesThe woman who housed cop killer Dezi Freeman has confirmed a chilling link to the man accused of mowing down MP Helen Haines.Perth Now · 27 Oct, 05:20
• Dezi Freeman’s former landlord reveals connection to man accused of hitting MP Helen HainesThe woman who housed cop killer Dezi Freeman has confirmed a chilling link to the man accused of mowing down MP Helen Haines.The West Australian · 27 Oct, 05:20

In this story: Rebecca Swift · Dezi Freeman · Brendan Nugent · Helen Haines · Porepunkah

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem