The short version
- The defendant admitted discarding a mobile device to eliminate potential incriminating evidence following the alleged killings.
- Testimony revealed a pattern of deceptive behavior, including fabricated social media posts and deleted messages between the accused and one victim.
- Lamarre-Condon pleaded not guilty to murder charges but acknowledged lying to Baird and acting out of obsession during their relationship.
A former Australian police officer has admitted in court that he threw a mobile phone off a bridge in an attempt to destroy evidence linked to the alleged murders of two men. Beau Lamarre-Condon, who is standing trial for the fatal shootings of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies, testified that his actions were intended to remove any digital traces that could incriminate him. The admission marks a significant development in the case, which centers on an incident at Baird’s home in Sydney’s Paddington district on February 19, 2024.
Lamarre-Condon faces two counts of murder and one charge of aggravated break and enter. He has entered not guilty pleas to all charges. During his sixth day as a witness, the former officer confirmed that he disposed of Baird’s phone by throwing it from Tom Uglys Bridge, located in the Sutherland Shire area south of Sydney. When asked by Crown Prosecutor Brett Hatfield SC whether the act was designed to eliminate evidence on the device that might link him to the crimes, Lamarre-Condon responded affirmatively, stating that he did not want any proof of the phone’s existence on his person.
The prosecution presented a narrative of calculated deception and escalating obsession. Hatfield suggested that Lamarre-Condon had lied to and deceived Baird repeatedly throughout their relationship, which occurred primarily in 2022 and 2023. The former officer agreed with this characterization, acknowledging that he had misled Baird on numerous occasions. The court heard details about how Lamarre-Condon manipulated social media interactions to create false impressions regarding his connection to Baird.
Specifically, Lamarre-Condon admitted to posting a photograph of a flower bouquet on Instagram in November of the previous year. He adjusted the privacy settings so that only the man Baird was dating at the time could view the post. The caption implied that Baird had sent him the flowers despite being in Melbourne. Lamarre-Condon testified that his goal was to provoke a reaction from Baird’s partner, hoping to determine if they were in a committed relationship. He later admitted to using Baird’s phone to block the other man and delete their message history, an action he conceded was wrong.
When Baird questioned him about the social media post, Lamarre-Condon engaged in what the prosecutor described as gaslighting. He initially feigned confusion before fabricating a story that the flowers were a gift from his stepfather to his mother, who had recently injured her ankle. To support this lie, he ordered an identical bouquet and sent a photo of it with his mother to Baird. Lamarre-Condon acknowledged in court that these messages were lies designed to make Baird appear unreasonable for asking questions.
The trial also touched on Lamarre-Condon’s attempts to cover his tracks after his arrest. Hatfield put it to the witness that he had deliberately deleted messages and photos with Baird to remove evidence of their relationship. Lamarre-Condon disputed this, stating he did not believe he had deleted those specific items. However, he admitted to contacting a friend in Western Australia to ask if she would accept the phone for disposal into a body of water, though he ultimately did not mail the device to her.
Prosecutor Hatfield characterized Lamarre-Condon’s behavior as stemming from unrequited love that devolved into obsession. He suggested that the former officer felt wronged because Baird did not reciprocate his feelings to the same degree. Lamarre-Condon agreed that he had wronged Baird in certain aspects. The testimony highlights a complex dynamic involving manipulation, jealousy, and a deliberate effort to obscure the truth from both the victim and law enforcement.
The case continues before Justice Natalie Adams at the New South Wales Supreme Court. The jury is tasked with weighing Lamarre-Condon’s admissions of deceptive behavior against his denial of the murder charges. The disposal of the phone remains a critical piece of evidence, as investigators seek to determine if the device can be recovered and what data it may contain regarding the events leading up to the shootings.
Legal experts note that while admitting to destroying evidence does not constitute a confession to murder, it significantly undermines the defendant’s credibility. The prosecution argues that the pattern of lying and manipulation demonstrates a consciousness of guilt. As the trial proceeds, the focus will likely shift to forensic evidence and witness testimony regarding the night of the alleged killings.
The incident has drawn attention to issues of accountability within law enforcement agencies, given Lamarre-Condon’s former status as a police officer. The use of his service weapon in the alleged shootings adds another layer of scrutiny to the case. The court proceedings are expected to continue for several weeks as both sides present their arguments and call additional witnesses.
Sources behind this briefing
Go to the original reporting
- The Guardian World↗Beau Lamarre-Condon admits throwing Jesse Baird’s phone off a bridge after alleged murders, trial hears
