Sydney Double Murder Trial Hears of Obsessive Behaviour
The Sydney double murder trial of Beau Lamarre-Condon has heard that Jesse Baird had expressed concern to friends and family about his former partner's obsessive behaviour. The court was told that Mr Baird had received a photo from his son, Jesse, at a concert with a message that Luke Davies was now his boyfriend in early 2024.
A Sydney court has heard that a television presenter, Jesse Baird, had expressed concern to friends and family about his former partner, Beau Lamarre-Condon, who he believed was becoming obsessive.
The court was told that Mr Baird had received a photo from his son, Jesse, at a concert with a message that Luke Davies was now his boyfriend in early 2024. Helen Baird, Jesse's mother, described the pair as "smitten" with each other.
Escalating Behaviour
During an opening address, Crown Prosecutor Brett Hatfield SC outlined a series of escalating behaviours by Mr Lamarre-Condon, including monitoring Mr Baird's relationships and interfering with his phone and Instagram account.
The Crown alleges that Mr Baird was stalked and his home broken into by the defendant "at least" twice. Several of Mr Baird's friends gave evidence that he had expressed concern to them and sought advice.
According to Corey Dean Thorpe, Mr Baird's previous long-term partner, the television presenter was "petrified".
"I woke up at 11:30 last night to a guy standing over my bed, he stole my phone and wallet," Mr Baird told his ex in an August 2023 message.
"I was fast asleep. It was so weird, I sensed someone was there."
The Crown says that person was Mr Lamarre-Condon, who used a stolen or secretly-obtained key before jamming a bobby pin into a lock to make it look like it was picked.
Defence Case
Mr Lamarre-Condon's defence counsel told jurors he had a key provided by Mr Baird. He denies a charge of aggravated break-and-enter over the incident.
In a November 2023 phone conversation with Mr Thorpe, Mr Baird spoke about the defendant using social media to give the impression they were together, the court was told.
"I've never heard him so scared in his voice before," Mr Thorpe testified.
"He just kept repeating, 'He has a gun'."
Mr Lamarre-Condon's defence counsel, John Stratton SC, urged jurors not to reach final conclusions until they have heard all of the evidence.
In his opening address, Mr Stratton said his client had done some "stupid things" like looking through Mr Baird's phone, deleting contacts of other men and wiping text messages.
He flagged a self-defence case in relation to the events of February 19, 2024.
Mr Stratton said he did not anticipate any evidence of any threats from the accused, who admits entering the Paddington terrace.
According to the opening address, the defence will argue Mr Lamarre-Condon, who was "very upset" about the final break up, went there to retrieve possessions.
He disguised himself as an Uber Eats driver because he did not expect anyone to be home, but if they were he would be able to "masquerade" as a delivery person, the jurors heard.
Inside, Mr Stratton said his client was "surprised" by Mr Baird, who failed to recognise him due to a helmet he was wearing.
The barrister said it was his client's case that there was a struggle involving the police pistol which Mr Lamarre-Condon was carrying because his training prohibited it being left unattended in vehicles.
The gun went off twice and fatally wounded Mr Baird, according to the defence case, and the weapon was "flung" into the lounge room before Mr Lamarre-Condon called Triple Zero (000) from a mobile phone.
It is the accused's case that as he started moving to the door, he encountered Mr Davies and in a second struggle also involving the gun, Mr Davies fatally shot himself.
The two deaths were "a tragedy", Mr Stratton said.
Crown's Case
The Crown has foreshadowed evidence about what it says was Mr Lamarre-Condon's alleged planning to murder Mr Baird.
According to the lead investigator, police obtained some 14,000 hours of CCTV footage showing his movements, including at a gun safe at a police station and stopping at ATMs.
On the morning of February 19, he used a hire car, activated a burner phone, and waited near the property for three hours until two housemates had left, the Crown said.
CCTV footage shows Mr Lamarre-Condon at a gun safe at a police station.
The planning is also alleged to have included the cash purchase of a surfboard bag days prior, which prosecutors allege he intended to use to dispose of a body.
In CCTV of a sports store, Mr Lamarre-Condon is seen holding up a surfboard bag next to a friend.