‘It wasn’t intentional’: What Beau Lamarre-Condon claimed in double murder testimony this week

A former police officer has alternated between wiping his eyes and making strident declarations as he addressed allegations in the dock this week that he murdered his ex-boyfriend and the man’s new partner.

Beau Lamarre-Condon gave evidence before a NSW Supreme Court jury, marking the first time he’s spoken publicly at length about the charges he faces.

The 31-year-old has pleaded not guilty to murdering Jesse Baird and Luke Davies in a Sydney home in February 2024, arguing he acted in self-defence.

He admitted to being nervous as he gave his version of events in front of a crowded courtroom, speaking at a rapid pace that prompted multiple entreaties to slow down.

The former senior constable was animated and direct as he answered questions from his defence barrister John Stratton SC about his relationship with Baird and its breakdown in November 2023.

He was asked about an incident in August 2023 where Baird woke at night to find Lamarre-Condon with his phone and wallet in his darkened bedroom.

The 31-year-old told defence barrister John Stratton SC he had been invited over and a key to the home had been left in the letterbox.

He claimed he wanted to go in and check Baird’s phone to see if he had been chatting to other men.

Baird ended their non-exclusive relationship in November 2023 after learning Lamarre-Condon had gone through his phone to vet romantic rivals and posted a photo to falsely insinuate Baird sent him flowers.

Baird hadn’t, he admitted to the jury, saying he created the post to test whether Baird was seeing other people.

Lamarre-Condon explains Uber Eats disguise

Lamarre-Condon told the jury this week he went to his ex’s house on the morning of 19 February to collect an array of $2000 shirts and a $25,000 Cartier ring.

Before entering the Paddington house, Lamarre-Condon first went to a cafe and saw an Uber Eats motorcycle outside, which gave him an idea.

He adopted the outfit of an Uber Eats driver — complete with motorcycle helmet — so he couldn’t be recognised or accused of harassing Baird if someone was at home, he claimed.

He let himself into the house and searched through packing boxes for any sign of his belongings, telling crown prosecutor Brett Hatfield SC he didn’t lift his visor to do so.

Lamarre-Condon said he had the helmet on with his service-issued pistol hidden in its holster under his arm when he was spotted by Baird, who he says was holding a knife while yelling “we’re getting robbed”.

Ex-officer claims ‘police mode’ kicked in during struggle

He said the pair struggled over the knife, asking Baird multiple times to drop it, before the other man managed to pin him to a wall with the knife near his neck.

He told the court “police mode” kicked in and he upholstered his gun, pointed it at Baird’s shoulder, and fired in a bid to incapacitate him.

Baird grabbed the front of the gun and yanked it forward and the pair fell to the ground when Lamarre-Condon accidentally discharged the weapon a second time, he said.

“It was my fault,” he told the court while wiping his eyes.

“I’m responsible for his death, but it wasn’t intentional.”

As he moved towards the front door, he said he was confronted by the man he now knows to be Davies, holding the gun which he “must have picked up from the living room”.

“It was pointed towards me at my chest and he said ‘I’m going to f***ing shoot you’,” Lamarre-Condon testified.

The police training kicked in again, he said, and he tried to direct the muzzle of the gun away from himself and back towards Davies as they struggled.

Davies must have pulled the trigger because the gun went off and a bullet became lodged in the doorway, Lamarre-Condon told the jury.

Crown alleges double murder driven by jealous obsession

The former police officer said he thought his ex-boyfriend was still alive, so he picked up a phone from the kitchen to call triple-zero before thinking he could flag down a passing ambulance.

Lamarre-Condon said he planned to call authorities but was restrained by a panic attack.

His offer to plead guilty to manslaughter was rejected by prosecutors.

Prosecutors allege Lamarre-Condon was motivated by jealous obsession when he shot Baird execution-style and then killed Davies through a door to eliminate a witness.

Lamarre-Condon will continue to be cross-examined when the trial resumes on Monday.

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