Ex-Police Officer Tells Jury Friend Directed Him to Dump Bodies in Van

Beau Lamarre-Condon told the jury on Tuesday that a friend directed him to dispose of two bodies immediately after a double shooting, contradicting her previous testimony. The 31-year-old former police officer is on trial for the deaths of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies, who were fatally shot in Baird’s Paddington home on 19 February 2024.

Lamarre-Condon pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder and one count of aggravated break and enter. His defense argues the shootings were accidental and that he acted in self-defense. A statement read to the court by prosecutor Brett Hatfield SC outlined Lamarre-Condon’s version of events from the 21 February 2024, two days after the alleged killings.

According to the statement, Lamarre-Condon picked up a friend identified in court as Elizabeth Kennedy. He showed her the bodies in the back of a van and asked if he should drive straight to police. He claimed Kennedy replied that they could not go to police because they would not believe them, citing a Taylor Swift song titled No Body, No Crime.

Lamarre-Condon alleged that Kennedy told him, “No, no, you can’t. They won’t believe you.” He stated she insisted they had to get rid of the bodies straight away. He claimed he warned Kennedy she could be charged as an accessory to murder and offered to let her walk away, but she said she would help because he had helped her in the past.

The defendant told the court that Kennedy played the song on her phone while they drove and laughed at the situation. He claimed she assisted in carrying the bodies and helped pour concrete into bags to make them sink at a farm in Bungonia. Lamarre-Condon said Kennedy used his pocketknife to cut holes in a surfboard cover, which he alleged caused knife wounds on Luke Davies’ leg.

Kennedy gave evidence last week and presented a different account. She told the court she did not know what was happening and believed they were going out for lunch. She denied helping to dispose of the bodies or playing the song in the car. “I didn’t know anything,” she said. She added that she is five foot tall and weighs 55 kilos, making it unlikely she could carry a body.

Lamarre-Condon’s statement accused Kennedy of lying to police about her involvement. He said he initially did not tell police about her role because she begged him not to. He alleged that if the case went to court, he would have to tell the truth because he could not lie under oath.

The court heard that Lamarre-Condon handed himself into police on 23 February 2024 at 10.37am. Earlier that morning, he reported a psychological injury to a police assistance line. A recording of the call played to the jury showed him describing anxiety and symptoms of schizophrenia. He told the operator he had been exposed to trauma and bullied since joining the force.

Lamarre-Condon told the operator that detectives were already aware he was being driven to a central police station. The trial before Justice Natalie Adams continues.