Full Breakdown
Former New South Wales (NSW) Police Officer Faces Murder Trial Over 2024 Double Killing
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Alleged Double Murder and Self-Defence Claim
On 19 February 2024, former senior constable Beau Lamarre-Condon, 31, entered the Paddington home of his former partner Jesse Baird, 26, and Baird’s new partner Luke Davies, 29. Prosecutors allege Lamarre-Condon used his police-issued Glock pistol to shoot Baird twice in the kitchen and then shot Davies through a bedroom door. The defence, led by John Stratton SC, argues the officer acted in self-defence after an unexpected struggle and that Davies accidentally discharged the weapon himself.
Background & Context
Lamarre-Condon and Baird dated briefly in 2022-23. After Baird ended contact in November 2023, prosecutors say the officer stalked her, stole her phone and sent deceptive messages. The Crown says Lamarre-Condon planned the killings in early 2024, purchasing a surfboard bag, hiring a vehicle under his mother’s name and researching ways to muffle gunfire.
Key Figures
- Beau Lamarre-Condon – former NSW Police senior constable, accused of two murders and aggravated break-and-enter.
- Jesse Baird – television presenter, victim.
- Luke Davies – Qantas flight attendant, victim.
- Brett Hatfield SC – crown prosecutor.
- John Stratton SC – defence barrister.
- Justice Natalie Adams – presiding judge.
Timeline
- 19 February 2024 – Alleged shootings at Baird’s residence.
- Late February 2024 – Bodies discovered in surfboard bags near a monastery in Bungonia, eight days after the killings.
- 21 September 2026 – Trial commenced in the NSW Supreme Court.
Data & Statistics
- Ages: Lamarre-Condon 31, Baird 26, Davies 29.
- More than 100 witnesses are slated to testify.
- The trial is projected to last approximately three months.
- Bodies were concealed in two surfboard bags and later moved to a fence line near a Greek monastery.
Official Statements & Responses
Prosecutor Brett Hatfield SC described the killings as pre-meditated, noting the officer entered with a “stolen” key, shot Baird “execution-style,” and then shot Davies while he was calling emergency services. He also highlighted post-crime actions, including cleaning the scene and attempting to hide the bodies.
Justice Natalie Adams said she will work to complete the trial “by Christmas.”
The defence maintains that Lamarre-Condon entered to retrieve personal belongings, was surprised by Baird’s presence, and that the subsequent gunfire resulted from an accidental discharge by Davies during a struggle.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The Crown asserts Davies was shot through the bedroom door by Lamarre-Condon. The defence counters that after the gun was flung across the room, Davies picked it up and “in the struggle that followed, Mr Davies pulled the trigger and fatally shot himself.” The precise sequence remains contested.
Why It Matters
The case has resonated within Sydney’s LGBTQ+ community, prompting vigils and fundraising for the victims’ families. It has also sparked debate over firearm control and police conduct in domestic-violence cases involving officers.
What’s Next
The trial, overseen by Justice Adams, is expected to continue for at least twelve weeks, with the jury hearing testimony from police officers, family members and forensic experts. A verdict is not scheduled; the court will determine whether the self-defence claim withstands the Crown’s evidence.