In a dramatic development within one of Australia's most high-profile criminal cases, former New South Wales police officer Beau Lamarre-Condon has signalled his intention to plead not guilty to the murders of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies.
The 28-year-old appeared via audio-visual link from Parklea Correctional Centre during a brief case management hearing at Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court on Monday. The matter was adjourned until October 21st, allowing time for the extensive brief of evidence to be served to the defence.
Charges and the Alleged Crime
Lamarre-Condon stands accused of murdering two men: Jesse Baird, a former television presenter for Network 10, and Luke Davies, a Qantas flight attendant. The couple were allegedly killed inside Mr. Baird's home in the inner-Sydney suburb of Paddington on February 19th.
The case sent shockwaves through the community and made international headlines, not only due to the victims' profiles but also because the accused was a serving police constable at the time of the alleged offences.
The Path to Discovery
The investigation began when the loved ones of Mr. Baird and Mr. Davies reported them missing. The situation turned critical when police discovered a amount of blood and a projectile at Mr. Baird's home, triggering a homicide investigation.
The break in the case came when Lamarre-Condon allegedly assisted police in locating the bodies of the two men at a rural property near Bungonia, south of Goulburn, on February 27th. The victims' remains were found inside surfboard bags.
A Complex Legal Proceedings
Lamarre-Condon’s lawyer, John Walford, confirmed his client’s not guilty plea to the two charges of murder. The matter is now set to proceed to the NSW Supreme Court, where a trial by jury is expected to take place.
The case has already seen intense media scrutiny and is likely to be one of the most closely watched trials in recent Australian legal history, examining the conduct of a police officer and the tragic deaths of two young men.
