Beau Lamarre-Condon told a friend he was suicidal and intended to end his life in Bali, making similar comments again shortly before he allegedly killed Jesse Baird and Luke Davies.
During an extended conversation from prison, Lamarre-Condon repeatedly insisted he had not gone to Baird’s home on February 19, 2024, intending to kill anyone.
He said the friend, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was unaware of several aspects of the case, including the extent of his depression and the “evidence” he believed could support his defence in court.
Lamarre-Condon was heard saying he had never sought help from a psychologist because he feared doing so would cost him his job as a police officer.
He also said he initially pleaded guilty to manslaughter over Baird’s death, describing the plea as “taking accountability” for his conduct. However, he did not accept responsibility for Davies’ death.
Throughout the conversation, Lamarre-Condon repeatedly told his friend, “I know you’re not a liar”. He described the friend as human, inexperienced and likely to make mistakes.
“I didn’t even f***ing do it. Use your brain,” Lamarre-Condon could be heard saying.
When the friend tried to leave at one point, Lamarre-Condon responded: “Breathe. Stop. Breathe.”
He said the idea of entering Baird’s home while it was empty came from another friend, who had wanted to collect belongings from her former boyfriend’s property.
Lamarre-Condon told the friend he had gone to Baird’s home to retrieve his own possessions on the day of the alleged killings. He waited until Baird’s roommates had left before knocking on the door.
He said he used a key Baird had made for him to enter, only to discover that Baird and his boyfriend, Luke Davies, were inside.
The court has previously heard allegations that Lamarre-Condon took Baird’s spare key and had a copy made without Baird’s knowledge.
“Can you imagine being me though? A cop? Knowing other cops aren’t going to believe me?” he told the friend.
He argued that if he had arrived intending to murder two people, he would have brought cleaning supplies and a van rather than using his police-issued firearm.
“You’ve seen the kids I work with, I can get a gun, I can get a gun for 10 grand,” he said.
Lamarre-Condon worked for NSW Police as a youth engagement officer, supporting troubled teenagers.
At the time of the alleged murders, he was wearing an Uber Eats uniform and helmet.
He said Baird did not recognise him at first and “kicked off” after realising someone had entered the house.
The court has previously heard Lamarre-Condon’s claim that he went to the property to collect personal belongings. He said he was carrying his police-issued gun because officers were trained never to leave it inside a car.
According to his account, Baird failed to recognise him in the Uber Eats clothing and attacked him, triggering a struggle during which the gun discharged and fatally wounded Baird. Lamarre-Condon claimed Davies then took hold of the weapon and accidentally shot himself.
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Prosecutors allege he went to the house with the intention of killing Baird, and allegedly killed Davies because he couldn’t have any witnesses.
In the recorded conversation, Lamarre-Condon told the friend: ‘I’m not going to say anything specific, I love you, look in my eyes: I did not do anything.
‘Thank God it’s supported by evidence, and you’re going to see it on the news.
‘Look at me for a sec … I don’t believe you’re a liar, I know you’re not, but I do know that humans get things wrong, very experienced cops can get things wrong, and you’re not a cop, you don’t have experience.’
The court previously heard that Lamarre-Condon asked his mother to rent a Mazda before the alleged murders so he could go to Baird’s house in a car that was not recognisable.
In the recording, he told his friend: ‘I got a hire car that my mum had because her car was in for service in Marrickville from February 19 to March 18, and we’re going to produce this evidence in court.’
So far, the court has not heard evidence that his mother’s car was being serviced between those dates.
Lamarre-Condon said it was possible the friend had misheard their prior conversations, but that didn’t mean he lied in his statement.
The friend tried to leave the conversation a number of times. Each time he did, Lamarre-Condon could be heard saying: ‘Now we’re getting somewhere.’
The friend sounded confused, but stayed.
Lamarre-Condon said: ‘I’m not worried about you going to court, I’m not worried for me, for my own selfish reasons, because it’s going to be very easy to show that [in court].’
‘I’m not trying to deter you, I want you to go [to court], but be honest about everything.’
‘[This has] traumatised you and now I’m taking accountability, I’m actually trying so hard not to cry now.’
He said that he planned to take his own life before the alleged murders, but couldn’t stand the thought of his mother or friends seeing him dead.
‘The only thing I was thinking about was you guys – do I want people to see my dead body? No,’ he could be heard saying.
Lamarre-Condon then referred to an instance earlier that year when he took the friend into a national park, fired his police gun, and asked if anyone else would have heard the shots.
In the conversation, he told the friend that he actually wanted to take his life that day. He said he had planned on going back to the park and taking own life when no one was around.
During the conversation, he then said to the friend, forcefully: ‘Listen for a sec I’m nearly done.’
‘Now you’re about to see all the jigsaw puzzle pieces.’
