Court Hears Voice Notes from Beau Lamarre-Condon Following Alleged Murders

The New South Wales Supreme Court jury in the trial of Beau Lamarre-Condon heard audio recordings on Tuesday that captured the accused reflecting on his mental state shortly after the alleged killings. While some might be trying to understand the gravity of these events, the court focused on messages sent by the 31-year-old police officer to a man he had met through a dating application earlier in 2024. Lamarre-Condon stands accused of fatally shooting Jesse Baird and Luke Davies with his service weapon at Baird’s Paddington residence on February 19, 2024. He has entered a plea of not guilty to two counts of murder and one charge of aggravated break and enter.

During the proceedings, a statement was read from the man who had been seeing Lamarre-Condon casually. The man testified that he received a series of voice notes from the officer on February 20, 2024, the day after the alleged crimes. In the recordings, Lamarre-Condon claimed he had been feeling unwell and was preparing for a medical operation. He told the recipient that he was attempting to get back into a positive mindset while remaining in bed. The officer further noted that he had no intention of visiting the gym that week and was considering canceling plans for a boat party because he did not feel physically well.

Beau Lamarre-Condon’s voice notes to a dating app acquaintance were presented as evidence in his murder trial.

In subsequent audio clips, Lamarre-Condon apologized for his lack of communication, explaining that he had not replied to other friends either. He emphasized that he did not want to appear as though he was complaining, describing himself as a naturally positive person. By midnight on February 21, 2024, the man noticed that Lamarre-Condon had removed his Instagram account. In a final voice note played to the jury, the accused explained that he had deactivated his social media presence to take a mental break, noting the addictive nature of the platforms. The court also heard from a surgeon and viewed CCTV footage confirming that the officer underwent minor surgery on February 21, 2024.

Defense Position

The defense team, led by John Stratton SC, has argued that the deaths of Baird and Davies were the result of accidental shootings occurring during two separate struggles. According to the defense, Lamarre-Condon acted in self-defense and subsequently disposed of the bodies and cleaned the crime scene because he had panicked significantly after the incidents.

Why it matters

The presentation of these personal recordings provides the jury with insight into the behavior and stated mindset of the accused in the immediate aftermath of the alleged double murder. This evidence is central to the ongoing trial as the court evaluates the prosecution's case against the defense's claims of accidental death and self-defense.