Former police officer cross-examined in Sydney double-murder trial

Beau Lamarre-Condon returned to the witness box for the second day of his trial in Sydney, where he continues to maintain a not-guilty plea in the murders of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies. After completing his evidence-in-chief, Crown prosecutor Brett Hatfield SC began cross-examination of the former officer.

During cross-examination, Lamarre-Condon reiterated that he believed his decision to fire a shot into Baird’s right shoulder was justified, saying he intended only to make Baird drop a knife. He told the court he would not have shot at Baird’s chest and that “that first shot into Jesse’s right shoulder was the right move.”

"I stand by it. I could have shot him in the centre of the chest to kill him … I all I wanted Jesse to do was drop the knife."

He also claimed he kept his high-visibility jacket on because it made a noise when he moved, and he kept his visor on to avoid being identified, stating, “If anyone was there I didn’t want them to see who I was so I could run away and not be sighted.”

Lamarre-Condon said he was searching for expensive clothing at Baird’s residence on the day of the alleged murders, describing his shirts as “Casablanca” and worth about $2,000.

"I like to buy expensive clothing. So yes I have expensive items I kept there."

When asked about the disposal of the bodies, he described a failed attempt to sink them using concrete-filled bags, noting that the bags would not submerge and that his friend, identified only as Elizabeth Kennedy, tried to cut the bags with a pocketknife.

"It wouldn’t go down that’s when [she] freaked out. She was having a panic attack."

Lamarre-Condon said he wore a face mask while handling the bodies because the van they were in smelled “very bad” due to decomposition. He recounted that Kennedy discouraged him from going to police, referencing a Taylor Swift song, and advised him to use concrete to sink the bodies.

"She’s a big Taylor Swift fan. She just wanted to be a good friend and help me. She thought I would actually get killed in jail."

He denied ever using the phrase “pew pew” when describing the shooting, calling it “something a kid would say.” He also expressed fear that turning himself in could lead to violence against him in prison, saying he felt he would be “signing my own death wish.”

The trial continues with further cross-examination and evidence to be presented in the coming days.