The jury in the Beau Lamarre-Condon murder trial has heard from a witness who says he stumbled on a disturbing scene at a Sydney golf club. His account adds a new layer to the Crown’s case about what happened after the deaths of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies.
The Charges and the Defence
Lamarre-Condon is a former police officer. The Crown alleges he posed as an Uber Eats rider to get into Baird’s home in Paddington on February 19, 2024. It says he then killed Baird and Davies, who was Baird’s new partner.
He has pleaded not guilty. His defence is that he acted in self-defence. The trial is being heard by a jury in the NSW Supreme Court.
Baird was a Channel 10 presenter and an AFL goal umpire. Davies worked as a Qantas host. The court has been told Lamarre-Condon and Baird briefly dated.
What the Greenkeeper Found at Club Cronulla
Craig Scott, a greenkeeper at Club Cronulla, gave a statement to police that was read to the jury on Tuesday. He said he noticed a mix of household goods in a skip bin at the venue. These included wooden drawers, shoes and AFL shorts still sealed in packaging.
A closer look with a colleague turned up white flags marked with heavy red staining. Scott first wondered whether it was spray paint. He then pulled a brown item of clothing from a bin bag. He put it back because the stains looked like dried blood.
His colleague brushed off the concern at first and lifted out a white bed sheet with red marks. He then changed his mind and agreed it could be blood.
The pair also saw a silver watch, a leather pouch, a Qantas card and a second card carrying Davies’ name. Both men felt something suspicious had happened, so they contacted authorities. The skip bin was later declared a crime scene.
The Crown’s Timeline After the Deaths
Prosecutor Brett Hatfield SC has told the jury that Lamarre-Condon had dinner with a friend, Ethan Lynch, in Cronulla the next evening. Lynch is expected to say the accused mentioned needing a skip bin later that night.
The Crown alleges Lamarre-Condon drove Lynch home and then dumped a large amount of the couple’s belongings at the Club Cronulla bin. It says this included Baird’s furniture and bloodied bed linen.
The Crown also alleges the bodies were left outside a Greek monastery in Bungonia. It says they were bagged and covered with rocks and sticks.
Friends Testify About the Days That Followed
Davies’ close friend Daniel Hart told the jury he messaged Baird on the same day the items were found. Hart said police had located Davies’ wallet and contacted his mother. He said no one could reach Davies and that people were frightened. Hart never got a reply.
Another friend of the accused, Georgia Cook, has also given evidence. She told the jury Lamarre-Condon once said that if he killed someone, he would take their belongings and put them in a dumpster. She said he added that he would hide the bodies in bushland.
Body-Worn Video From the Paddington Home
The jury has also watched body-worn camera footage from Baird’s home. The Crown alleges Lamarre-Condon cleaned the house after the deaths. A cleaner booked by Baird’s flatmates arrived on February 21, because Baird was due to move out that week.
Detectives who attended told the cleaners to stop and reassured them they were not in trouble. They explained the property was now being declared a crime scene.
Senior Constable Alistair Wright told the jury police found no blood inside the home. He recalled a possible small drop on a bookshelf near the front. Crime scene officer Bronwyn Lansley later told the court that several samples tested positive for both Baird’s and Davies’ DNA. Photos of blood stains were shown to the jury.
Prosecutors have acknowledged the scene had changed by the time police got there. They say key forensic evidence was still found, including bullet damage and traces of blood.
What Happens Next
The jury is due to visit the Paddington home on October 14. Lansley is expected to point out the markers the jury has already seen in photographs.
FAQ
What is Beau Lamarre-Condon accused of?
He is accused of murdering Jesse Baird and Luke Davies at Baird’s Paddington home on February 19, 2024. The Crown alleges he disguised himself as an Uber Eats rider.
Has he pleaded guilty?
No. He has pleaded not guilty and is relying on self-defence.
Where did police find the couple’s belongings?
The Crown alleges many items were dumped in a skip bin at Club Cronulla. The greenkeeper who found them reported it to authorities.
When will the jury visit the crime scene?
The visit to the Paddington home is planned for October 14.
Does the jury get to see the evidence?
Yes. Jurors have seen crime scene photos and body-worn video, and they have heard witness statements.
