NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb issues statement about the alleged murders of Luke Davies and Jesse Baird in Paddington
NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb has made her first public statement three days after an officer was charged with killing two men.
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NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb has made her first public statement three days after an officer was charged with killing two men.
Commissioner Webb issued a written statement on Sunday saying the community needed to be patient with detectives while they get to the bottom of how on-duty cop Beau Lamarre-Condon allegedly murdered Jesse Baird and Luke Davies.
It is the first time Commissioner Webb has been heard on the matter.
“I would like to extend my heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of Luke Davies and Jesse Baird. It is difficult to comprehend the grief and pain of their loss,.” Commissioner Webb said.
“I acknowledge this week’s events are distressing for many and I share the sadness and shock about the alleged nature of Luke and Jesse’s deaths”.
“I understand there are many unanswered questions and while I cannot comment on the matter before the courts, I can reassure Luke and Jesse’s loved ones, and the people of NSW, that we are working around the clock to find those answers.”
“I ask the community to have patience as police work to determine what happened.”
“As our investigation continues, I would ask anyone who has information that could assist, to please come forward and contact us.”
The statement comes after new information Lamarre-Condon allegedly sent text messages from the phone of one of his victims, telling his house mates he was moving to Perth — in the days after he was already dead.
The Sunday Telegraph can reveal two lengthy texts were sent from the phone of Mr Baird, faking an impending move interstate and discussing what to do with his furniture.
Police sources said the messages initially threw detectives off the scent and led them to believe Mr Baird was still alive.
In the first txt he said he would collect the furniture and put it into storage because he was moving to Perth on Thursday.
In the second he appeared to rethink his decision and told them to put the property, including a bed head, out onto the street.
It is believed the housemates had “kicked out” the ex-Studio Ten reporter last week due to the messy state of the Paddington property and had told him via txt message that cleaners were booked to come in on Thursday.
On Friday, Lamarre-Condon handed himself into Bondi Police Station at 10.30am before being charged with murdering Mr Baird, 26, and his current boyfriend, Mr Davies.
Police will allege the youth command cop shot the two men, while on duty, at Mr Baird’s terrace house with his service issued Glock pistol on Monday.
CCTV footage at the scene allegedly showed Lamarre-Condon in plain clothes.
Police believe he then used a hire van to dispose of the bodies, which have yet to be recovered.
Detectives are now working overtime to find the two deceased men to establish exactly how they died and give closure to their devastated families.
Police sources said the txt messages appeared to be “quite an amateur attempt at creating a story so people would not be suspicious when the victim never returned home”.
But another police source said the messages initially threw police off the scent.
“They (the texts) made us think they were still alive,” one officer said.
Police have also been told that Lamarre-Condon allegedly stalked Mr Baird and bombarded him with calls and txt messages for months after their break-up.
Lamarre-Condon also allegedly hacked into Mr Baird’s social media accounts, a source said.
It comes as a family member of Mr Baird was the first to break their silence over his disappearance and alleged murder.
His cousin Austin took to Instagram, sharing an emotional tribute in which he referred to Mr Baird as his “first ever best friend”.
The post, accompanied by pictures of the cousins together, and with other loved ones said:
“Jesse, my first ever best friend, I am beyond devastated.
“I still can’t believe it. Most of my favourite memories in life were me, Luke, Brendan and you riding motorbikes, skiing, boating and camping.”
“You were on in a million, you cared about everyone and left such an impact on every person you met.”
On Friday, Homicide Commander Danny Doherty told reporters it would be alleged Lamarre-Condon’s police issued Glock pistol had been fired inside the Brown St property, which was raided by police on Wednesday.
“We found a projectile and a case that matches a police firearm,” Det Supt Doherty said. “And that firearm belongs to the 28-year-old man (Lamarre-Condon) who has been charged …”
Lamarre-Condon’s weapon was checked back into a firearm safe at a suburban police station after the alleged murder. The pistol will now form a major part of the investigation and is currently the subject of a ballistics examination, which will establish how many bullets were fired and how many were left in the clip when it was checked back in.
Det Supt Doherty said police are still actively piecing together a timeline of events and movements before and after the alleged murders.
Lamarre-Condon drove the van to a house in Lambton, near Newcastle, and spent Thursday night there before driving back to Sydney on Friday morning.
A police source said the van had been cleared out before arriving, but investigators were still hopeful that tests for forensic material left behind will produce some evidence.
The woman who lives in the house is a friend of Lamarre-Condon and is not accused of wrongdoing. She is assisting police.
Police divers yesterday searched the waters near Lambton but found nothing.
The van was found at Grays Point, near Cronulla, on Friday.
Meanwhile, Lamarre-Condon has not co-operated with police, but investigators are now digging through his devices, data and internet history in an attempt to uncover if he allegedly researched how to carry out or cover-up the murders he is now accused of committing.
Police have not commented on a motive for the murders, but confirmed they will be looking into the fact Lamarre-Condon was in a relationship with Mr Baird that ended a couple of months ago.
The 28-year-old, who once found fame as a celebrity chaser and posed for photos with Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, Miley Cyrus and Lady Gaga, faced Waverley Local Court on Friday afternoon.
Lamarre-Condon’s charges — two counts of murder — were read out to him and he said nothing.
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