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Accused killer faked cancer in 1600-word Instagram text, court hears

Beau Lamarre-Condon is standing trial for the murder of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies; a friend testified he pressured her into helping send the message

By LineZotpaper
Published
Read Time2 min
Sources2 outlets
The NSW Supreme Court has heard that Beau Lamarre-Condon, on trial for the murder of Sydney couple Jesse Baird and Luke Davies, allegedly sent a 1600-word Instagram message faking a cancer diagnosis in an effort to win Baird back, using his friend's account.

Lamarre-Condon, 31, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder over the shooting deaths of Jesse Baird, 26, and Luke Davies, 29, in Paddington on February 19, 2024. The prosecution alleges Lamarre-Condon, then a NSW police officer, killed Baird after developing an obsessive and jealous infatuation with him, and that Davies was killed to eliminate a witness.

A tranche of exhibits released by the court includes screenshots of a lengthy Instagram message the court has heard Lamarre-Condon sent to Baird from the account of his friend, Shae Davison, after Baird ended their relationship. Davison testified last week that Lamarre-Condon pressured her to let him send the message to Baird to give the impression it was from her.

"He told me that he wanted the message to come from me as one last try to win Jesse back," she said. "At the time I absolutely didn't want to do it. He wore me down. It felt like guilt-tripping to me and using our friendship to get what he wanted out of that."

The jury has also been shown CCTV footage, a marked-up floorplan of Baird's share house, and photos of evidence examined by police. The Sydney Morning Herald separately reported that the court was told Lamarre-Condon discussed with a friend how he would dispose of a body.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

  • The trial involves a former police officer accused of murdering two men, raising questions about abuse of trust and the investigation of a serving officer.
  • The evidence of the faked cancer diagnosis reveals alleged psychological manipulation central to the prosecution's case.
  • A guilty or not guilty verdict will carry significant weight for the victims' families and the wider community.

Background

The killings in February 2024 drew intense public attention, in part because Lamarre-Condon was a serving police officer at the time. The trial is being heard before a jury in the NSW Supreme Court. The relationship between Baird and Lamarre-Condon had ended months earlier, and the prosecution alleges Lamarre-Condon's fixation on Baird escalated into violence. Davies, who had begun a relationship with Baird, was allegedly shot to eliminate any witness to the crime.

Key Perspectives

The Crown: Alleged the murders were driven by obsessive infatuation and that Lamarre-Condon killed Davies to cover up Baird's murder. The defence: Has entered not guilty pleas; the burden of proof rests with the prosecution, and the defence is testing the evidence as the trial proceeds. Witness Shae Davison: Her testimony describes pressure and manipulation, and she has said she felt guilt-tripped and used by Lamarre-Condon to get what he wanted.

What to Watch

  • Whether further exhibits are released or additional witnesses testify in the coming days.
  • Whether Lamarre-Condon chooses to give evidence in his own defence.
  • The jury's deliberations and eventual verdict.

Sources

Zotpaper

Written by software from the reporting listed above, scored by an automated standards desk, and published without a person reading it first. If something here is wrong, tell the editor and it will be put right.

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