The short version
- Beau Lamarre-Condon has pleaded not guilty to murdering Jesse Baird and Luke Davies in their Paddington home.
- CCTV footage shows the former officer measuring a surfboard bag against a friend shortly before the alleged crimes.
- The defense contends the shootings were acts of self-defense after the defendant entered the residence disguised as a delivery driver.
A Sydney court is hearing evidence in the trial of Beau Lamarre-Condon, a former New South Wales police officer accused of murdering two men and attempting to conceal their bodies. The 31-year-old has pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder and one charge of aggravated break and enter. The case centers on events that unfolded in February 2024 at the Paddington residence of Jesse Baird, 26, and Luke Davies, 29.
Prosecutors have presented a narrative of premeditation, alleging that Lamarre-Condon developed an intense obsession with Baird following a brief romantic relationship. Crown prosecutor Brett Hatfield SC told the jury that this fixation escalated into compulsive behavior, leading the former officer to plan the killings in early 2024. The prosecution argues that the defendant used his police service weapon to fatally shoot both men at their home on February 19.
Central to the prosecution’s case is surveillance footage from a shopping center in Miranda, captured two days before the alleged murders. The video shows Lamarre-Condon arriving in a grey Tesla and entering a Decathlon store with a friend. Inside, the pair proceeded directly to the section selling surfboard bags. The defendant was seen examining various options before selecting one specific cover.
The footage depicts Lamarre-Condon holding the bag up against his friend, who stood upright for measurement. The bag appeared to clear the friend’s head by only a few centimeters. Prosecutors alleged that during this interaction, Lamarre-Condon asked his companion if he would fit inside the bag. He then purchased the item using $90 in cash, as evidenced by receipts presented to the court.
According to the prosecution, Lamarre-Condon returned to the same store shortly after the shootings to buy a second surfboard bag. The state alleges that Baird’s body was placed in the first bag purchased on February 17, while Davies’ body was concealed in the second bag acquired later. Family members of the victims were present in the courtroom as this footage was played, with some shaking their heads in reaction to the images.
The defense has offered a sharply different account of the events. Lawyers for Lamarre-Condon argue that the former officer acted in self-defense. They claim he disguised himself as an Uber Eats delivery driver to gain entry to Baird’s home on the day of the incident. The defense maintains that once inside, the situation escalated violently, forcing the defendant to use lethal force to protect himself.
Justice Natalie Adams is presiding over the trial at the New South Wales Supreme Court. The proceedings have highlighted the contrast between the prosecution’s theory of calculated murder driven by obsession and the defense’s assertion of a desperate act of survival. The jury must weigh the circumstantial evidence, including the timing of the bag purchases, against the defendant’s claims of self-preservation.
The case has drawn attention due to Lamarre-Condon’s background as a police officer, raising questions about access to weapons and knowledge of forensic procedures. While the prosecution emphasizes the chilling nature of the pre-crime preparations, the defense focuses on the immediate context of the confrontation inside the home. The trial continues as both sides present their respective versions of the tragic events.
Legal experts note that the outcome will likely hinge on the credibility of the self-defense claim versus the strength of the evidence suggesting prior planning. The purchase of specific items capable of concealing human bodies, coupled with the alleged obsession, forms a significant part of the state’s argument. Conversely, the defense relies on the assertion that the defendant faced an imminent threat once inside the residence.
As the trial progresses, further details regarding the relationship between Lamarre-Condon and Baird are expected to emerge. The court will examine communications and behaviors leading up to February 2024 to determine whether the prosecution’s characterization of obsession is supported by facts. The families of Baird and Davies await a verdict that will either confirm their suspicions of premeditated violence or validate the defendant’s account of self-defense.
Sources behind this briefing
Go to the original reporting
- The Guardian World↗Beau Lamarre-Condon sized up surfboard bag against friend before allegedly murdering Sydney couple, court told
