Double-death trial hears self-defence claim from ex-officer
Beau Lamarre-Condon claims he killed two men in self-defence after a struggle over his gun, the Sydney court has heard.
The 31-year-old former police officer is accused of shooting Jesse Baird, 26, and Luke Davies, 29, at Baird's Paddington home on 19 February 2024. Lamarre-Condon's defence lawyer told the jury on Tuesday that Lamarre-Condon, disguised as an Uber Eats driver, entered the home with a key.
When Baird did not recognise him, a struggle followed and Baird was killed. The defence claims the gun was then thrown across the room, Davies picked it up, and during a second struggle, Davies shot himself.
The prosecution alleges Lamarre-Condon planned the murders and cleaned up the crime scene, moving the bodies. Audio of three gunshots was played to the court, with two coming in quick succession and a third 51 seconds later.
Lamarre-Condon has pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder and one count of aggravated break and enter.
Why it mattersThe trial reveals conflicting accounts of how two men died and whether a police officer's access to a service weapon was central to the killings.
AustraliaThe case is a major Sydney trial drawing scrutiny on how police are vetted, given Lamarre-Condon's access to weapons despite the prosecution's claims of obsessive behaviour.
Corroborated byperthnow.com.au
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 2 d ago
