Beau Lamarre-Condon Pleads Not Guilty, Claims Offer of Manslaughter Plea Rejected
Beau Lamarre-Condon, a former NSW police officer accused of murdering TV presenter Jesse Baird and his partner Luke Davies, has pleaded not guilty to all charges. During a court appearance, he claimed to have offered a guilty plea to manslaughter, which he alleges was rejected by prosecutors and police. This sparked an extraordinary outburst in the NSW Supreme Court on Friday.
Courtroom Outburst and Allegations
Appearing via video link from prison, Lamarre-Condon interrupted the proceedings to accuse both New South Wales police and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) of corruption. He stated he "will not be silenced" and strongly opposed any closed court orders for his trial, wanting the public to know the "truth" of his case.
He further claimed that he had previously offered to plead guilty to one charge of manslaughter related to Jesse Baird while in a lower court, but this offer was allegedly rejected. Justice Peter Hamill noted that any such negotiations would be recorded in the court file.
Details of the Alleged Murders
Lamarre-Condon is accused of shooting Baird and Davies at Baird’s Paddington home in Sydney in February 2024. Police allege he then transported their bodies in surfboard bags and disposed of them at a rural property near Bungonia, about 180km southwest of Sydney. The bodies were discovered eight days later after Lamarre-Condon handed himself in to police. Suspicions were initially raised when blood-stained possessions belonging to the victims were found in a skip bin.
Legal Proceedings and Trial
Lamarre-Condon faces two counts of domestic violence-related murder and one count of aggravated break and enter. His trial is scheduled to begin on September 21, 2026. The case has been subject to delays, including multiple changes in legal representation. Prosecutors allege the attack was premeditated, stemming from a campaign of "predatory behaviour" targeting Baird after Lamarre-Condon briefly dated him before Baird began a relationship with Davies. The brief of evidence includes over 200 witnesses, though the Crown is not expected to call all of them.
Lamarre-Condon's lawyer, John Stratton SC, indicated he does not anticipate applying for the case to be heard by a judge alone, meaning it will proceed before a jury.
Background and Previous Career
Lamarre-Condon joined the NSW Police Force in 2017 and was a senior constable at the time of the alleged murders. Prior to joining the police, he ran a celebrity blog and was photographed with numerous celebrities, including Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez, Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, and Harry Styles. He was sacked from the police force shortly after being charged with the murders.
