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‘More sides to every story’: Shock development in Beau Lamarre-Condon case

Clare Sibthorpe

Updated ,first published

Alleged double killer Beau Lamarre-Condon will fight allegations he murdered Sydney couple Jesse Baird and Luke Davies in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, with his lawyer telling journalists “history will be the judge”.

The former police officer allegedly used his service-issued Glock pistol to shoot 26-year-old television presenter Baird and 29-year-old Qantas flight attendant Davies inside a Paddington terrace in February 2024.

Beau Lamarre-Condon (left) is accused of murdering Jesse Baird and Luke Davies.

The 30-year-old has spent 18 months in custody on remand over the alleged murders as his case faced several court delays, including legal representation changes and withdrawals.

However, on Tuesday morning at the John Maddison Tower Local Court, the case finally progressed when Lamarre-Condon pleaded not guilty to the two counts of domestic violence murder and one count of aggravated break and enter regarding an alleged incident with Baird, with whom he’s accused of becoming fixated following a short, casual romance.

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His Legal Aid lawyer, Ben Archbold, told Deputy Chief magistrate Theo Tsavdaridis that Lamarre-Condon would be defending the alleged murders.

Later on Tuesday morning, Lamarre-Condon faced court via audiovisual link from inside Silverwater prison to formally enter the pleas.

Lamarre-Condon faced court via AVL from inside Silverwater prison.Rocco Fazzari

Wearing his prison greens, he stared intently at the camera for the five-minute appearance.

He said “not guilty” to the three charges, and when told the case would be committed for trial, he said “thanks, your honour” before the link was cut.

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Outside the court, Archbold told awaiting media, “As you’ll probably appreciate, there are always more sides to every story.

“We’ll have an opportunity to tell ours in the fullness of time, in the appropriate form, and I suppose history will be the judge,” he said.

Police allege Lamarre-Condon stalked Baird, potentially breaking into his Paddington home and damaging the television presenter’s car in the lead-up to the alleged murders. Baird had allegedly complained to friends about a “shadowy figure” standing over his bed.

The then-serving police officer is accused of checking his service weapon out of Miranda Police Station ahead of a shift patrolling a pro-Palestine protest on the day of the deaths.

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Police claim he then hid the couple’s bodies in surfboard bags he purchased at a Miranda shopping centre, before submerging them in a dam and leaving them about 180 kilometres south-west of Sydney, travelling in a rented white van.

A three-day manhunt followed Baird and Davies’ sudden disappearance, before Lamarre-Condon turned himself in to police on February 23.

Colleen Lamarre leaves court after her son entered pleas of not guilty.Sitthixay Ditthavong

Days after his arrest, he allegedly revealed the bodies’ location to detectives from inside custody.

In July, his second legal team, led by publicly funded lawyer Alexander Terracini, sensationally quit after “an issue arose” the day before his latest court appearance. Terracini had replaced Lamarre-Condon’s first solicitor, John Walford.

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A third legal team replaced them, with Legal Aid appointing Sydney lawyer Archbold, who was granted a six-week adjournment in July despite the prosecution’s objections.

The court heard a further count of aggravated break and enter regarding an alleged incident with Baird was dismissed.

Lamarre-Condon’s mother, Colleen Lamarre, attended court to support her son on Tuesday and walked out of court without speaking to journalists.

In his pre-policing days, Lamarre-Condon ran a celebrity blog, interviewing or posing with dozens of celebrities, including Taylor Swift.

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The court heard the matter will next be heard in the Supreme Court on October 3 for arraignment.

Lamarre-Condon has been fired from the NSW Police Force.

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Clare SibthorpeClare Sibthorpe is a crime reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via X or email.

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