Beau Lamarre-Condon, a former New South Wales Police officer, is facing two murder charges in connection with the deaths of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies.
Lamarre-Condon, 28, allegedly shot Baird and Davies at Baird’s Paddington home on February 19 using his police-issued pistol. He turned himself in to police on February 23 after a three-day manhunt.
On Tuesday, Lamarre-Condon’s lawyer, John Walford, appeared in Downing Centre Local Court for a compliance hearing. Walford told the court that he had only received part of the police brief of evidence and requested that the matter be adjourned until June so that the rest of the material could be provided.
Outside court, Walford was questioned by media about his client’s state in Silverwater prison. ‘He’s OK, for the most part he’s OK,’ Walford said. ‘It would be very tough for him at the moment, but it’s tough for everyone.’
Walford declined to elaborate on how he would defend his client, other than agreeing that mental health was ‘probably’ going to form part of the case.
The court’s public gallery was packed with journalists and members of the public, including Detective Sergeant Sasha Pinazza, the investigator credited with convincing Lamarre-Condon to reveal the location of Baird and Davies’ bodies.
Police allege that Lamarre-Condon had planned to kill Baird because he was obsessed with the television presenter. They further allege that he had signed his police-issued Glock pistol out from a gun locker days earlier, under false pretences, to carry out the murder.
Baird was just 26-years-old when he was killed. His mother, Helen, mourned his loss at a memorial service in Victoria late last month. ‘Jesse was so special from the moment he was born,’ she said. ‘When they say there’s nothing like a mother-son bond, no truer word has ever been spoken … My heart is broken, my darling boy, and I love you more than this world.’
Davies, 29, was farewelled at a service in Brisbane last week. His older brother spoke of cherished memories growing up, saying ‘He always shone with the brightest light and wore the biggest smile in any room he was in. Words will never be enough to express how much I love you, and how proud I am to be your big brother.’
