Police officer charged with murder of missing Sydney couple

The police officer accused of murdering Sydney couple Jesse Baird and Luke Davies has appeared at Waverley Local Court, hours after police released footage of the 28-year-old’s arrest at Bondi police station.

Beau Lamarre-Condon was wearing all black and stared into the distance as the magistrate read out the charges. He was remanded in custody and will next appear in court on April 23.

Earlier, footage released by NSW Police of Lamarre-Condon’s arrest at Bondi police station showed him holding out his hands for handcuffs and then walking from the car park into the main building, accompanied by three detectives.

The former partner of Baird walked into Bondi police station about 10.30am on Friday and was taken into custody. He was charged with two counts of murder, homicide squad detective superintendent Daniel Doherty said.

Doherty said a police-issued firearm was discharged at Baird’s Paddington home, where a large amount of blood and upended furniture was found. This is where police believe the pair was killed.

The firearm was checked back into a police station at a later date, Doherty said.

It comes as homicide squad detectives appeal for any information regarding a white van seen near Baird’s home before he disappeared. Police believe the van was used to transport the couple’s bodies.

Beau Lamarre-Condon takes part in the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras in February 2020.Credit: AAP

The van was located in Grays Point, in Sydney’s south. The bodies of Baird and Davies have not been found.

“We believe the last time Jesse and Luke were last seen was Sunday night and we have established so far that some time on Monday during the day the likely murders happened, and then Monday night this white van was hired from Mascot at 9.30pm,” Doherty said.

Police said Baird’s phone had shown activity on Tuesday. It’s not known who was using the phone at that time.

The investigation was sparked after bloodied clothes belonging to Baird and Davies, along with personal items such as keys and credit cards, were found in a skip bin behind a registered club in Cronulla on Wednesday.

Luke Davies (left) and Jesse Baird.

Police sources said Lamarre-Condon, who is a senior constable attached to a specialist command, was in Newcastle on Thursday night, after the search for him began. On Friday afternoon, police had cordoned off Karoola Road in Lambton as part of their investigations. Police seized CCTV footage from Club Lambton on Karoola Road that showed the white van parked on the road overnight.

A blue tarpaulin was erected over the site on Friday afternoon where the van was parked.

A Karoola Road resident said he saw a white van parked across the road from his house on Thursday night. Ian Cunningham said it piqued his interest because of the van’s size and he knew it was not owned by a neighbour. “I heard doors opening and closing and after being asked [by my wife] I came out and saw a young fellow walking away from that van,” Cunningham told the Herald.

“He walked towards the bowling club and that’s the last I saw of him. By 2am, the van was gone.”

Police say Lamarre-Condon returned to Sydney, handing himself into Bondi police station on Friday after telling a family member he planned to do so.

Late on Thursday night, police raided a Balmain house connected to a family member of Lamarre-Condon as part of the investigation into the disappearance of the couple.

Police searched a home on Waite Avenue in Balmain on Thursday night.Credit: TNV

Lamarre-Condon did not live at the address, but police sources not authorised to speak publicly said he was thought to be at the home. He had left before their arrival after seeing news reports identifying him in connection to the missing men, the sources said.

Detectives executed a late-night search warrant on the Balmain home on Waite Avenue and seized a number of items as evidence. Vision of the search shows chairs and garbage bins being moved by detectives. A nearby laneway was also taped off and police were seen taking away brown paper bags containing evidence.

Property records show the home was purchased under the name Lamarre-Condon almost six years ago.

Homicide squad detectives have since established Strike Force Ashfordby to investigate the disappearances, which are now being treated as alleged murders.

On Friday, riot police and forensic investigators combed through garden beds on the tree-lined streets around Brown Street in Paddington, looking for clues where the missing men were last spotted.

The blue-green door to number 60, and the blood-stained crime scene inside, remained taped off and guarded by police.

The riot squad climbed nearby fences and peered into front gardens before zeroing in on a splash of red-brown on the pavement outside a gallery.

Forensic officers swabbed it and moved on. The laneways and terraces, pot plants, bins and even street libraries were also scoured by police.

A brown paper evidence bag was bundled into a police van and driven from the scene.

Police search garden beds near Baird’s home.Credit: Janie Barrett

Lamarre-Condon joined the police force in 2019. A year later, a video of him Tasering a man in the face in Darlinghurst went viral – but he was cleared of any wrongdoing by an internal investigation.

Davies and Baird’s relationship features heavily on their social media accounts. Days ago, Baird uploaded an image of the couple at a Pink concert. A fortnight ago the pair visited a Hunter Valley winery, another social post shows.

Davies had not turned up to work for Qantas. Meanwhile, Baird – an AFL umpire in addition to his media career – failed to appear for the “match simulation” between the Swans and GWS on Thursday morning.

“Jesse was rostered on but did not turn up and has not been in touch with his colleagues. The AFL has contacted his family and offered support,” the AFL said in a statement on Thursday.

Qantas said: “Our thoughts are with family, friends and colleagues of our crew member at this very difficult time.”

Two cars from Paddington – one belonging to Baird and Davies – and another from an undisclosed location have been seized by police, who have begun the painstaking task of compiling CCTV footage and combing through phone records to document the couple’s recent movements.

If you or anyone you know needs support:

QLIFE - Anonymous and free peer support to LBTQ+ communities. 1800RESPECT - Confidential counselling and support services. Lifeline -131 114. Beyond Blue - 1300 224 636