Source : Perth Now news
A television presenter was “falling in love” with his partner before they were both allegedly murdered by a former police officer, the couples loved ones told a jury in a series of emotional testimonies.
Beau Lamarre-Condon is accused of disguising himself as an Uber Eats rider before murdering Jesse Baird and his new partner Luke Davies at the journalist’s home in Paddington, Sydney in February 2024.
He is arguing self-defence as he fights the murder allegations before a jury trial in the NSW Supreme Court.
Mr Baird, 26, was a TV presenter for Studio 10.
He met Qantas flight attendant Mr Davies, 29, at a New Year’s Eve party in December 2023, with Mr Baird’s mother Helen telling the jury they were “smitten”.
“It was early days but they were both smitten with each other and they were great together,” Ms Baird told the jury.
She recalled how her son sent her a photo of he and Mr Davies at a Pink concert and told her: “Luke’s my boyfriend.”
“I just sent a big love heart and said I’m so happy for both of you,” Ms Baird said through tears.
Mr Baird’s close friend Matthew Edwards on Wednesday told the jury how happy his friend was to have found Mr Davies.
“He was almost falling in love with him,” Mr Edwards said.
“I’d never seen Jesse as happy … There was something about Luke that just lit Jesse up. They were the real deal.”
Mr Baird’s former colleague from Studio 10 Briony Blackstone told the jury how the TV presenter told her how happy he was with Mr Davies during a catch-up just a week before his alleged murder.
“He spoke about Luke … he said how much he liked him, and he said that he had asked Luke to be his boyfriend and Luke had said yes,” Ms Blackstone said.
The trial will continue on Thursday.
