Sydney murder victim was 'petrified' of accused police officer, court told
A witness testified at the trial over the shooting deaths of Sydney couple Jesse Baird and Luke Davies that Baird had been terrified of his former partner, armed police officer Beau Lamarre-Condon, months before the killings. The accused has pleaded not guilty.
The trial of former police officer Beau Lamarre-Condon, 31, is continuing in the New South Wales supreme court. He is accused of fatally shooting Sydney couple Jesse Baird, 26, and Luke Davies, 29, with a police service weapon at Baird's Paddington home on 19 February 2024. Lamarre-Condon has pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder and one charge of aggravated break and enter.
Prosecutors allege Lamarre-Condon developed an "obsession and infatuation" with Baird that manifested in compulsive behaviour during their brief relationship. When Baird decided to end things in November 2023, that behaviour allegedly escalated.
Witness testimony
Corey-Dean Thorpe, who had previously been in a long-term relationship with Baird and remained close friends with him, broke down in tears while testifying about how frightened Baird had been. Thorpe told the court Baird kept repeating "he has a gun" and that he had never heard Baird sound so scared. Baird reportedly told Thorpe he was extremely afraid of Lamarre-Condon specifically because he was armed and a police officer.
The court heard Baird was scared to report the situation to police because Lamarre-Condon was himself an officer. Baird also feared Lamarre-Condon might make a false allegation against him that could destroy his career — Baird worked as a presenter on the children's programme Totally Wild and as an AFL umpire, roles requiring certification to work with children.
On 3 February 2024, months after the breakup, Baird told a friend he was relieved to be finished with Lamarre-Condon. He soon after described his new relationship with Davies, telling the friend he had never seen Baird as happy as he was with Davies.
Lamarre-Condon's defence has argued he acted in self-defence, claiming he disguised himself as a food delivery driver to enter Baird's home and that a struggle led to the fatal shots. The trial before Justice Natalie Adams continues.
