Full Breakdown
Beau Lamarre-Condon trial: covert prison recording raises questions about alleged confession
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event – Court hears covert recording of accused discussing February 2024 killings
Beau Lamarre-Condon, 31, is on trial for the fatal shooting of Jesse Baird and his partner Luke Davies in Baird’s Paddington home on 19 February 2024. He has pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder and one count of aggravated break-and-enter. During the sixth week of the New South Wales Supreme Court trial, a covert audio recording of a prison visit was played to the jury. In the recording, Lamarre-Condon speaks to a friend who is testifying under a protected certificate, acknowledging the friend’s involvement and disputing statements the friend had previously given to police.
Background & Context – Relationship with victims and prior interactions
Lamarre-Condon and Baird had a casual relationship in 2023, which the accused later described as brief. The friend testified that the two men were together on a Bali trip at the end of 2023, during which Lamarre-Condon expressed interest in purchasing a gun silencer and later discussed a plan to test gun noise in a national park. The bodies of Baird and Davies were discovered in surfboard bags at a rural property in Bungonia, eight days after the February killings.
Data & Statistics – Charges and key facts
- Charges: two counts of murder, one count of aggravated break-and-enter.
- Victims: Jesse Baird and Luke Davies, both found dead in surfboard bags.
- Location of murders: Baird’s terrace in Paddington, Sydney.
- Age of accused: 31.
Official Statements & Responses – Positions of defendant, prosecution, and court
- Defendant’s claim: Lamarre-Condon argues the shooting was an act of self-defence and contends he “misheard” or “misinterpreted” elements of an alleged confession recorded by the friend. He told the friend that “the truth is, you misheard it.”
- Judicial guidance: Justice Natalie Adams explained to jurors that the friend’s protected certificate shields his testimony from prosecution but does not protect him from perjury allegations.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The truth is, you misheard it,” — Mr Lamarre-Condon
- “However, I know that humans … get shit wrong, hear shit wrong.” — Mr Lamarre-Condon
- “I was frustrated at the time, because he kept trying to change my word and make me think what I said wasn't accurate” — Monday
Conflicting Reports & Gaps – Discrepancies between defendant’s account and friend’s testimony
- Self-defence vs. murder motive: Lamarre-Condon maintains the shooting was self-defence; the friend’s earlier police statement described a deliberate killing to eliminate a witness.
- Interpretation of confession: The accused asserts the friend “misheard” his words, while the friend insists Lamarre-Condon was “changing” his recollection.
- Evidence of planning: The friend recalled discussions about buying a silencer and testing gun noise, whereas Lamarre-Condon later claimed he could have obtained another firearm for $10,000 and would not have used his police pistol.
What’s Next – Ongoing trial
The trial continues before Justice Natalie Adams, with further forensic and testimonial evidence expected to be presented before a verdict is reached.