But what happened in front of horrified witnesses happened fast - so fast, police would say later, that there was no chance for anyone to stop it. Charged with murder: Arthur Freeman in police custody yesterday. Credit:Joe Armao Just after 9am, Freeman's white Toyota LandCruiser, driving towards the city, slowed in the left lane. It stopped. Freeman is 35. He works in IT and lives in Hawthorn. He is estranged from his wife. What happened next is before the courts. This is what witnesses told police they saw:

Freeman got out of the car. He walked to the rear passenger door. His two sons, aged six and two, were in the back seat. But it was his four-year-old daughter, Darcey Iris Freeman, whom he leaned over and unbuckled. He lifted her up and carried her to the edge of the bridge near its highest point. Witnesses later told police the child seemed limp; she did not fight. She did not protest. Those who had to deal with what happened next have prayed that maybe she was unconscious, or thought it was a game; that she had no idea. Freeman allegedly walked to the edge of the bridge near its highest point, lifted his daughter over the railing - and let go. Darcey fell past the railings, past the line of cars, past the pylons. She fell 58 metres into the murky waters below. Her father got back into his car. He drove off. Frantic motorists called police.

Water police got there first. They dragged the little girl from the water at a spot near a pumping station at Spotswood. They desperately tried to resuscitate her. Paramedics arrived. They worked on her for almost an hour before she was flown to the Royal Children's Hospital. She was in a critical condition with internal injuries. Meanwhile, a massive police hunt swung into action. Police searching for the white LandCruiser feared a second crime scene. But about 10.30am they were called to the Commonwealth Law Courts, on the corner of William and La Trobe streets in the city. Security staff there are trained to recognise people in distress. They phoned police after noticing a man in the foyer crying and shaking uncontrollably. He looked, one said later, like "he'd had enough".

His two sons were clinging to him. He begged security guards, "Can you take my kids for me?" He was having trouble talking. It was his older son who gave the guards mum and dad's names. When police arrived, Freeman was arrested and handcuffed. Family friends were called to the court to collect the children. Peta Freeman rushed to the hospital to be with her daughter. Darcey died at 1.35pm. It is believed that while in police custody, Freeman was unable to utter a word. He continued to shake and to weep, apparently in deep shock. He was charged with murder.

Yesterday afternoon, the Melbourne Magistrates Court was told a doctor had found him unfit for interview and was concerned he was suicidal. Magistrate Lance Martin said he would ensure staff at the Melbourne Custody Centre were advised of his condition and remanded him in custody to reappear on May 21. Zelma Rudstein, whose law firm Rudstein Kron Lawyers had acted for the man, described him as a "devoted and loving father". "It's devastating and unexpected. We are just trying to come to grips with it," she said. "It's very tragic and certainly not anything anyone could have predicted." Traumatised police and paramedics were being counselled last night. Detective Inspector Steve Clark from the homicide squad said the incident was distressing for the girl's family members, witnesses, police and the emergency workers involved, some of whom had young children. He said the incident had taken place so quickly that "no one had the opportunity to intervene".

"He's got straight out of the car and taken the young girl and walked to the edge of the bridge, so that would have happened in a matter of seconds," he said. "It's a dreadful set of circumstances. Often you think you've seen it all and you haven't." Loading With KATE HAGAN, MEX COOPER For help or information visit www.beyondblue.org.au, call Suicide Helpline Victoria on 1300 651 251, or Lifeline on 131 114.