Source : Perth Now news
Former police officer Beau Lamarre-Condon allegedly sent a friend photographs of his ex-boyfriend’s messages with another man, a jury has been told.
Mr Lamarre-Condon has pleaded not guilty to murdering his ex-boyfriend, TV presenter Jesse Baird, and Mr Baird’s new partner Luke Davies at the journalist’s Paddington home in Sydney on February 19, 2024.
It is not contested that the 31-year-old disguised himself as an Uber Eats rider before entering the home, but prosecutors allege he then used his NSW Police service pistol he should not have had to kill the couple, shooting Mr Davies through a door as he tried to call triple-0.
In turn, the former officer’s legal team argue he had gone to the home to collect his belongings and his police firearm, which he had on him due to being a police officer, “went off” and fatally wounded Mr Baird during a struggle, the jury was told.
The gun was then flung into the lounge room, with Mr Lamarre-Condon arguing that while he was ringing triple-0 himself, Mr Davies emerged holding the firearm and then fatally shot himself during a struggle.
Prosecutors allege Mr Lamarre-Condon developed an “obsessive and jealous infatuation” with Mr Baird after their relationship breakdown and allegedly stalked him throughout 2023 and 2024, the jury was told.
The former officer allegedly told his friend and fellow police officer, Mitchell Quercigrossi, that “it sounds crazy, I love him” shortly after he met Mr Baird, the jury was told on Tuesday.
Mr Quercigrossi recalled the former officer telling him he was loosely dating Mr Baird, who wanted to keep things casual, while Mr Lamarre-Condon wanted something more serious.
Later, in April 2023, Mr Lamarre-Condon asked his friend for advice in a series of late night messages, allegedly sending Mr Quercigrossi photographs of the TV presenter’s messages with another man.
The former officer allegedly asked “Am I just being stupid in hanging around?” and wrote “Haha and to think I just told you that I was calm and not crazy. But I need your honest advice”, the jury was told.
Mr Quercigrossi replied: “So you went through his phone? So crazy”.
“No, he gave me it earlier to change his background picture … but yes, I clicked on the message,” Mr Lamarre-Condon allegedly replied.
Mr Quercigrossi told the court he advised Mr Lamarre-Condon if it were him, he would leave the relationship.
The testimony came after Mr Baird’s sister Kourtnee told the court the TV presenter was “scared” of Mr Lamarre-Condon and had “caught him” going through his phone and blocking his male friends.
Mr Stratton also told the jury there is no dispute Mr Lamarre-Condon was “very upset” after their break up, and that he did “some stupid things” including deleting texts and contact from Mr Baird’s phone.
The trial will continue on Wednesday.
