Beau Lamarre-Condon, a former New South Wales police officer, interrupted his court hearing on Friday to accuse the police and prosecutors of corruption. He formally pleaded not guilty to the murders of TV presenter Jesse Baird and his partner Luke Davies.
Appearing via video link in the NSW Supreme Court, the 29-year-old claimed he had offered to plead guilty to manslaughter in a lower court, but the offer was rejected. Justice Peter Hamill noted that any such negotiations would be recorded in the court file.
Lamarre-Condon became the first serving NSW police officer charged with murder in decades. Police allege he used his service weapon to shoot the couple at Baird's home in Paddington, then disposed of their bodies in surfboard bags at a rural property. The bodies were found eight days after he surrendered.
The case has faced delays due to Lamarre-Condon changing lawyers twice and prolonged negotiations. He was sacked from the police force weeks after being charged. The court outburst marks the first time he has publicly entered a not guilty plea.
