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Beau Lamarre-Condon has pleaded not guilty to domestic violence-related murders of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies. The 12-week trial continues in Sydney with former friends testifying.
Beau Lamarre-Condon has pleaded not guilty to two counts of domestic violence -related murder and one count of aggravated break and enter in the deaths of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies in Paddington, Sydney, in February 2024. The former New South Wales senior constable appeared in court as his 12-week trial continued, with former friends giving evidence about his behavior before the alleged murders.
Former Friends Testify About Disturbing Conversations
Georgia Cook, a former friend of Lamarre-Condon, told the court about a surreal Thai dinner they had at a restaurant on Sydney's north shore in May 2023, nine months before the alleged murders. According to Cook's testimony, Lamarre-Condon asked her what she would do if he told her he killed someone and would she help him hide the body. She said he went on to describe how he would take their stuff, put it in a dumpster, and take their bodies to bushland where no one would ever find them.
Defence barrister James Lang repeatedly pressed Cook about why she continued to be friendly with the accused after that time. He presented a photo of them together in which Cook was smiling, and read out text messages she later sent to him, including affectionate terms like xxx and a teary-eyed emoji. Cook remained unmoved, stating she could never forget those words being said to her. She told the court a dispute had arisen between them after Lamarre-Condon asked her to do unpaid bikini model work for a swimwear line he owned.
Childhood Friend Recalls Gun Request
Another former childhood friend gave evidence about a video call she had with Lamarre-Condon approximately three months before the alleged murders. She told the court he made a gun gesture with his hands and asked her, Can you get me a gun? Defence counsel John Stratton SC challenged the witness's recollection, arguing it was Lamarre-Condon checking to see if she was safe from a violent partner.
A different former friend told the court she felt pressured by Lamarre-Condon into allowing him to use her account to send a lengthy Instagram message to Jesse Baird. She said he wore her down and it felt like guilt tripping and using their friendship to get what he wanted. In the 1,600-word message, sent over multiple entries because it exceeded the Instagram word limit, Lamarre-Condon said he had cancer, a lie, the prosecution previously told the court. She said she had been friends with the accused for 17 years.
Police Colleagues Give Evidence
Lamarre-Condon's friendships extended within the police force, and long-time former colleagues have given evidence. One former colleague said she had been a sympathetic ear to Lamarre-Condon's descriptions of his dealings with Mr Baird. But the court heard she had to excuse herself from the initial police investigation into the alleged murders when she realised she knew the accused.
She recalled a weird conversation in which she said Lamarre-Condon probed her about whether hire cars could be tracked. She said the accused told her, I promise I'm not doing anything illegal. In March 2024, he was sacked from the New South Wales Police.
Trial Continues with Grim Evidence
The defence stress test of Lamarre-Condon's old friends has been the first point of tension in the 12-week trial, which has largely coasted along. Justice Natalie Adams has presided over the court with a cordial but no-nonsense approach, speaking with her hands and smiling at the jury to guide them through difficult matters.
Many witnesses have come to mourn under a red-carpeted spiral staircase in the court's chequerboard foyer. After giving evidence, one witness walked out of the courtroom heavily sobbing, a companion wrapping his arms around her. Some seemed to be there for a show. If they were there for a show, this week has been the grimmest yet, with the jury shown photos of bloodied items and bone fragments.
Beau Lamarre-Condon Jesse Baird Luke Davies Murder Trial New South Wales Sydney Domestic Violence
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