Jesse Baird was "petrified" of Beau Lamarre-Condon, an armed police officer, a court has heard. Lamarre-Condon is accused of fatally shooting Sydney couple Jesse Baird, 26, and Luke Davies, 29, with a police service weapon at Baird’s Paddington home on 19 February 2024.
Lamarre-Condon, 31, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder and one charge of aggravated break and enter. The prosecution alleges he developed an "obsession and infatuation" with Baird, which led to compulsive actions during their brief relationship.
Corey-Dean Thorpe, a close friend of Baird, testified in the New South Wales supreme court that Baird was "extremely scared" of Lamarre-Condon because he had a gun and was a police officer. Thorpe agreed when asked if Baird was scared to go to the police due to Lamarre-Condon's position. Baird was also reportedly worried Lamarre-Condon would make a false allegation that could ruin his career as a television presenter and AFL umpire.
The defence team for Lamarre-Condon has claimed the police officer was acting in self-defence when he entered Baird’s home on 19 February. Defence lawyer John Stratton SC argued that a struggle ensued, leading to the shots that killed Davies and Baird.