Prison Visit: Covert Audio Played in Sydney Murder Trial

A secret audio recording from a prison visit has been played to a jury in Sydney, offering a detailed account from Beau Lamarre-Condon regarding the fatal shooting of two men. The 31-year-old police officer is charged with murdering Jesse Baird and Luke Davies at Baird's Paddington home on 19 February 2024.

The conversation took place in December of last year between Lamarre-Condon and a friend, whose identity is currently suppressed in court. On Monday, the friend returned to the witness stand while the jury listened to the tape. The friend testified that Lamarre-Condon initially described the killings as an out-of-body experience before attempting to frame the confession as a joke.

On the recording, Lamarre-Condon challenged the friend's memory, accusing him of lying about key details in his police statement. He argued that he did not kill Davies to eliminate a witness but acted in self-defense. When the friend pushed back, Lamarre-Condon told him not to switch up the story and noted that his friend was not self-aware in the way he was.

The accused also addressed the aggravated break and enter charge. He claimed the entry was not a break and enter because Baird had given him a key, though he admitted it was technically trespass. He said he did not knock because he feared an apprehended violence order, but he did call out hello upon entering.

Lamarre-Condon suggested he had no prior plan for the shooting. He stated that if he had planned it, he would have been calm and collected, with cleaning supplies ready and a different gun in hand. He mentioned he could have bought another firearm for 10,000 dollars instead of using his police service weapon.

During the visit, Lamarre-Condon told his friend he had tested the loudness of his gun at the Royal National Park in early 2024. He explained he planned to return there to take his own life due to suicidality stemming from work trauma. The friend threatened to leave multiple times, questioning the truth of the account.

The trial is currently presided over by Justice Natalie Adams. Lamarre-Condon has pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder and one charge of aggravated break and enter.