It began on a hot morning after a sweltering night. Freeman had apparently taken all three of his children to a beach house overnight to escape Melbourne's heat. Coming back to town, the traffic across the West Gate bridge was slow. But what police say happened in front of horrified witnesses happened fast - so fast, police would claim later, that there was no chance for anyone to stop it.

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, Peta. What happened next is before the courts. This is what some witnesses apparently told police they saw:

Freeman got out of the car. He walked to the rear passenger door. His two sons Benjamin, 6, and Jack, 2, were in the back seat. But it was Darcey whom he leaned over and unbuckled. He allegedly 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, lifted his daughter over the railing - and let go. Darcey fell past the railings; past the line of cars; past the pylons. She hurtled 58 metres into the murky waters below. Her father allegedly 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 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 in the city. The building houses the Family Law Court and the Federal Magistrates Court, which also handles family law cases. 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 the parents' 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, who died at 1.35 pm.

It is believed that while in police custody, Freeman was unable to utter a word. He was shaking and weeping, 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. The 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 Freeman, 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 would happen."

Traumatised police and paramedics were being counselled last night. For help or information visit www.beyondblue.org.au, call the Samaritans on 1800 198 313, or Lifeline on 131 114.