Former police officer reenacts shooting during murder trial in Sydney

Beau Lamarre-Condon, a former police officer, appeared in the New South Wales Supreme Court to plead not guilty to two counts of murder and one charge of aggravated break-and-enter linked to the deaths of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies at Baird’s Paddington home on 19 February 2024. During cross-examination, he stood and acted out the alleged confrontation, showing how he pushed Baird, who he said was holding a knife, before firing a shot aimed at Baird’s right shoulder.

Crown prosecutor Brett Hatfield instructed Lamarre-Condon to set aside his rosary beads and demonstrate the movements for the jury. Hatfield described the demonstration, noting that the accused extended his left arm, pushed the knife-hand away, and then raised his pistol with a bent elbow before firing.

“My arm did extend … I don’t know to what extent … there was constant movement in this struggle. That’s as clear as I can be. This happened very, very quick,” Lamarre-Condon told the court.

Lamarre-Condon maintained that Baird had pinned him before he pushed back and that the encounter was brief and chaotic. He also said both victims were in their underwear and without shoes at the time. While he affirmed that the first shot was intentional, he claimed the second bullet was fired accidentally and that he did not intend to target Baird with it.

The prosecutor questioned whether Lamarre-Condon’s current testimony differed from earlier statements, noting that the officer had previously said he was pinned by Baird. The trial continues as the jury considers the evidence.