Former NSW Police officer Beau Lamarre-Condon will not rely on a mental health defence when he stands trial over the alleged murders of Sydney couple Jesse Baird and Luke Davies.
His lawyers confirmed the decision during a directions hearing in the NSW Supreme Court on Friday, narrowing the issues expected to be placed before a jury when the trial begins in September 2026. Lamarre-Condon has pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder and one count of aggravated break and enter.
Trial Preparations Continue in NSW Supreme Court
Prosecutors allege Lamarre-Condon shot television presenter Baird and his partner, Qantas flight attendant Davies, at Baird’s Paddington home in February 2024.
They further allege he transported the men’s bodies to a rural property near Bungonia in regional New South Wales.
Lamarre-Condon denies the charges, and the prosecution’s allegations have not yet been tested before a jury.
During Friday’s hearing, Crown prosecutor Brett Hatfield indicated that jurors would probably be taken to the alleged crime scene as part of a planned jury view.
The Supreme Court matter is scheduled to return on 10 August as final preparations continue. The trial is expected to begin in September and involve hundreds of witnesses and several weeks of evidence.
The deaths of Baird and Davies caused widespread grief within Sydney’s LGBTQIA+ community and prompted renewed public discussion about domestic violence, police accountability and community safety.
Lamarre-Condon has remained in custody since his arrest in February 2024.
Coleen Lamarre’s Case Continues Separately
In separate proceedings, Lamarre-Condon’s mother, Coleen Lamarre, appeared before the Downing Centre Local Court on Friday.
The 63-year-old former NSW Police employee has been charged with one count of doing an act intending to pervert the course of justice.
Police allege she attempted to influence a key witness to change their evidence ahead of her son’s murder trial. She has not entered a plea.
Her solicitor, John Walford, successfully sought an eight-week extension of her bail. Her matter has now been adjourned until 11 September 2026.
Coleen Lamarre is not accused of involvement in the deaths of Baird or Davies.
She was arrested in April and initially held in custody before Acting Justice Robert Hulme granted her conditional bail on 7 July.
High-Profile Trial Approaches
The case against Beau Lamarre-Condon has involved numerous pre-trial hearings addressing evidence, court procedure and the management of what is expected to be a lengthy trial.
The confirmation that his defence will not rely on mental health grounds removes one potential issue from the proceedings, although the full arguments to be presented by his lawyers have not been disclosed.
Lamarre-Condon continues to maintain his innocence and will face a jury when the trial begins later this year.
