Baird was 'petrified' of accused killer cop and feared going to police, Sydney murder trial hears

TV presenter Jesse Baird was “petrified” of former NSW police officer Beau Lamarre-Condon and kept repeating “he has a gun”, a friend sobbed in the witness box on the second day of the Sydney murder trial on Tuesday. The friend told the NSW Supreme Court Baird was scared to go to the police. The testimony

Baird’s mother Helen and sister Kourtnee also gave at times tearful evidence. Kourtnee said Baird received messages from Lamarre-Condon at the gym saying “you looked really good in the gym tonight”, adding: “He was fearful, he was scared.” Helen recalled Baird texting her a photo of him and Davies at a Pink concert, saying “Luke’s my boyfriend” — less than two weeks before the killings. Family evidence

Lamarre-Condon, 31, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder over the deaths of Baird, 26, and Qantas flight attendant Luke Davies, 29, on 19 February 2024 at Baird’s Paddington home. The Crown alleges he developed an “obsessive and jealous infatuation” with Baird after a brief relationship, disguised himself as an Uber Eats rider, and killed Davies to “eliminate him as a witness”. The Crown case

The defence told jurors Lamarre-Condon went to the home to collect belongings and the fatal shootings happened during a struggle, insisting he did not plan to kill. He faces an additional aggravated break and enter charge relating to an alleged August 2023 break-in at Baird’s home. The defence case

Sources

• The Guardian: Jesse Baird ‘petrified’ of Beau Lamarre-Condon and kept repeating ‘he has a gun’, court hears
• 1News (TVNZ): Aus TV presenter was ‘fearful, scared’ of killer cop, sister says
• Europe Says (SMH wire): Beau Lamarre-Condon allegedly dressed as UberEats driver before shooting Jesse Baird, Luke Davies, says Crown prosecutor