Loved ones describe Jesse Baird's growing fear of Beau Lamarre-Condon in double murder trial
Loved ones of Jesse Baird have described his growing fear of Beau Lamarre-Condon in the months leading up to his death. The television presenter was shot dead in his Paddington home in February 2024, along with his boyfriend Luke Davies.
Jesse Baird's loved ones have given evidence in the double murder trial of Beau Lamarre-Condon, describing the television presenter's growing fear of the then-police officer in the months leading up to his death.
Mr Lamarre-Condon is accused of shooting Mr Baird and his boyfriend Luke Davies with a service pistol in Mr Baird's Paddington home in February 2024. The jury has heard that Mr Lamarre-Condon had previously been romantically involved with Mr Baird in 2022 and parts of 2023, but Mr Baird told him he was not ready for a relationship and had twice broken things off.
The Crown says Mr Lamarre-Condon formed an obsessive and jealous infatuation with Mr Baird, leading to a series of alarming incidents. Mr Baird's previous long-term partner, Corey Dean Thorpe, gave evidence that in late 2023, Mr Baird told him the defendant would post videos and photos on Instagram of Mr Baird to make it seem like they were in a relationship.
"He was petrified, I've never heard him so scared in his voice before,"
Mr Thorpe said of one phone conversation in November 2023. He fought back tears in the witness box, adding:
"He just kept repeating 'he has a gun'."
Mr Thorpe agreed that Mr Baird also told him he was scared to report things to police because Mr Lamarre-Condon was an officer, and was concerned there could be false allegations made that could impact his work as a television presenter and AFL umpire.
The court heard Mr Baird told Mr Thorpe that Mr Lamarre-Condon would go through his phone when he was asleep, find men he had been talking to, block the number, delete the contact and delete the chat. Mr Thorpe said Mr Baird told him he found out because he had woken up one night and saw the defendant using the phone.
Mr Thorpe recalled Mr Baird telling him about one instance when he was at a cafe and the accused drove past, before sending a message that read: "I hope you're enjoying that coffee with that guy."
Friends described Luke Davies (left) and Jesse Baird's (right) relationship as "the real deal".
The witness also agreed Mr Baird told him he was worried about what would happen when he ended things with Mr Lamarre-Condon "because the accused had stalked him". Mr Thorpe said Mr Baird sought his advice about a proposed message he planned to send the defendant.
The jury also heard evidence from a friend of Mr Baird, Matthew Edwards, who said Mr Baird had spoken to him about Mr Lamarre-Condon for the first time in January 2023. He said Mr Baird told him the defendant was "a friend and nothing more".
"No, thank f***, I'm so done … I'm so done with him."
Mr Edwards told the court that in early February 2024, he caught up with Mr Baird and asked if he had "heard from Beau". Mr Baird replied:
Mr Edwards was also asked about Mr Baird's new relationship with Mr Davies, which the jurors have heard quickly became "something solid" in the first months of 2024. He said he had never seen Mr Baird as happy as he was with Mr Davies.
"There was something about Luke that just lit Jesse up. They were the real deal."
The trial, before Justice Natalie Adams, continues and is expected to last for up to three months.