Beau Lamarre-Condon has declared “the truth will prevail” during a court hearing in Sydney, where he confirmed his not guilty pleas to the alleged domestic violence-related murders of former Channel 10 presenter Jesse Baird and Baird’s boyfriend, Qantas flight attendant Luke Davies.
Lamarre-Condon appeared via video link from prison for his formal arraignment in the NSW Supreme Court on Friday. An arraignment is when charges are formally read to the accused and they are asked to enter pleas before a case proceeds to trial.
Police allege Lamarre-Condon broke into Baird’s Paddington home on February 19, 2024, and shot Baird and Davies with a NSW Police service weapon. He is then accused of placing their bodies in surfboard bags and transporting them to a rural property, where they were later found.
The former police officer has been in custody since presenting himself at Bondi Police Station on February 23, 2024.
Speaking during the hearing, Lamarre-Condon told the court he would “not be silenced” and declared that “the truth will prevail”.
He claimed he had made a formal offer to the Director of Public Prosecutions to plead guilty to one count of manslaughter “in relation to Jesse Baird and Jesse Baird only”.
“I want this noted on the court transcript so if I’m convicted of this offence at trial, it was known I did take accountability from the very start,” he said. “I am remorseful, and I’m also entitled to my early plea discount.”
The 30-year-old said he wanted the public to know the “actual truth” about the investigation before NSW Police or the Director of Public Prosecutions made any application for a closed court or suppression order. He told the court he would “strongly oppose” any such move and also alleged “serious misconduct and corruption” by NSW Police investigators during the investigation.
It was the first time Lamarre-Condon had addressed the court at length, beyond short statements at earlier appearances.
Justice Peter Hamill thanked Lamarre-Condon for his comments but noted he had a capable solicitor to represent him.
“We might let her do the talking for the most part, and I’m sure if there were negotiations in the local court, they will have been recorded,” Hamill said.
In addition to pleading not guilty to two counts of murder, Lamarre-Condon also pleaded not guilty to one count of aggravated break and enter.
His lawyer, Ben Archbold – a former Big Brother contestant who previously represented baby killer Keli Lane – was not in court on Friday and was instead represented by a member of his team.
After a previous court appearance, Archbold told reporters: “There are always more sides to every story and we’ll have an opportunity to tell ours in the fullness of time and the appropriate forum.”
Lamarre-Condon’s mother was also in court on Friday but did not speak to the media.
The court heard the brief of evidence includes more than 200 witnesses, though not all are expected to be called to give evidence. A trial has been set to begin on September 21, 2026.
Editor’s note: This article was written by journalist Eliot Hastie, who knew Baird.
Eliot Hastie is a senior news producer at Channel Ten, reporting on a range of general stories, specialising in foreign affairs and LGBTQ+ stories. He’s also a reporter for Gay Sydney News, where he covers LGBTQIA+ culture, politics and nightlife. He previously helped to build and launch ausbiz, Australia's only live streaming finance news channel, where he was also an executive producer and host. He has previously worked as a finance and business journalist for publications including Fintech Business, Real Estate Business and other Momentum Media titles. Eliot holds a journalism degree from the University of Westminster and brings experience in both broadcast and digital reporting. Contact Eliot: eliot.hastie@gaysydneynews.com.au
