Bodies of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies Found in Australian Bush

Detectives discovered the decomposing bodies of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies concealed along a fence on a rural property, where they had been placed inside surfboard bags, stacked one on top of the other and covered with rocks, branches and foliage.

Images from the Bungonia crime scene, about 200km south of Sydney, were released by the NSW Supreme Court on Friday during Beau Lamarre-Condon’s double murder trial. Some of the most disturbing photographs were redacted.

Lamarre-Condon, a former police officer, has pleaded not guilty to allegedly shooting his former boyfriend, 26-year-old Baird, and Baird’s new partner, 29-year-old Davies, in Paddington on February 19, 2024.

The jury heard the men had been hidden inside the surfboard bags for eight days during summer, without refrigeration, before police located their bodies.

Senior Sergeant Christine Abela became emotional while giving evidence on Wednesday, telling the court she could smell the bodies as soon as she stepped out of the car. She said the odour grew stronger as she approached the fence.

Photographs released in court appear to show an alleged attempt by Lamarre-Condon to conceal the bodies beneath rocks, tree branches and foliage. The bright blue surfboard bags, however, remained clearly visible.

Ms Abela said Baird’s body was allegedly placed inside a black garbage bag, an inner surfboard bag and an outer bag. It was then stacked on top of Davies’ body, which was also enclosed in an inner and outer surfboard bag.

Both bodies were in an advanced stage of decomposition, the court heard. Detectives at the scene reportedly identified the men by comparing the rings and earrings they were wearing with photographs posted on Instagram.

Baird’s family was present when his remains were discovered at the property.

Ms Abela also told the court that black garbage bags were found near the bodies, along with two keys. One opened an iron security door, while the other was a house key for the front door of Baird’s rental property.

Former senior constable Greg Moon later testified that evidence had allegedly been left near the bodies, including blood-stained bedsheets, Lamarre-Condon’s fingerprints and DNA, and a Budget rental car card bearing his name.

Lamarre-Condon is accused of hiring a van from a car dealership on the day he allegedly killed Baird and Davies, then using it to transport their bodies from Paddington to Bungonia.

Police also found Baird’s driver’s licence and passport at the site, cut into several pieces. Bunnings receipts recovered nearby allegedly matched purchases the court has heard Lamarre-Condon made in the days following the alleged murders.

The purchases included an angle grinder, gum boots, garbage bags, coveralls, gloves, cable ties, cement, a wheelbarrow, weights and high-visibility clothing.

Prosecutors allege Lamarre-Condon was “obsessed” with Baird and unable to accept the end of their on-and-off relationship, which lasted from late 2022 until mid-2023.

The trial continues at 10am on Monday.