Lamarre-Condon tells court he caused friend's involvement in double murder

The New South Wales Supreme Court heard audio from a prison meeting where Beau Lamarre-Condon addressed a friend about their shared role in a double murder case. The conversation took place in December of last year, months after the 31-year-old police officer was charged with the killings.

Lamarre-Condon is accused of shooting Jesse Baird and Luke Davies dead in Baird's Paddington home on 19 February 2024. He used his police service weapon for the incident. The defendant has pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder and one charge of aggravated break and enter. Justice Natalie Adams is presiding over the trial.

The friend, whose name is withheld, recorded the conversation on behalf of police during a visit to the prison. At the start of the call, Lamarre-Condon asked his visitor to turn around to confirm he was not wearing a hidden microphone. The friend responded, 'You’re so paranoid. Calm down.'

During the visit, the friend stated that Lamarre-Condon had put him in a difficult scenario. Lamarre-Condon apologized and said, 'I fully take accountability that you’re involved because of me now.' The friend expressed frustration, noting that Lamarre-Condon had previously called him dumb. Lamarre-Condon replied, 'You’re not dumb OK,' before adding that his friend lacked self-awareness.

Lamarre-Condon disputed his friend's account of the events leading up to the murders. He accused the visitor of lying about the motive for killing Davies. Lamarre-Condon claimed he acted in self-defense rather than eliminating a witness. The friend responded to the accusation by saying, 'Don’t you dare switch up.'

The accused officer also addressed the break and enter charge in the recording. He stated that Baird had given him a key to the property, which he argued negated the break and enter element. He admitted the entry was trespass but described it as normal behavior for a former partner returning to retrieve belongings. Lamarre-Condon said he avoided knocking on the door to prevent an apprehended violence order but did call out hello upon entering.

Lamarre-Condon told the court he would have been 'cool, calm, collected' if he had planned the crime. He said he would have had cleaning supplies ready and would not have used a police firearm. 'I can get [another gun] for $10,000, I could have done all these things,' he said. He also mentioned taking the friend to Royal National Park in early 2024 to test the loudness of his gunshots before planning to return there for suicide.

The trial continues before Justice Natalie Adams.