November 19th 2024.
The court case involving a former police officer accused of murdering a couple in Sydney has hit a roadblock. The trial has been postponed for almost three months to give the new legal team, funded by taxpayers, enough time to prepare. The accused, 29-year-old Beaumont Lamarre-Condon, was charged with the double murder of Luke Davies, a Qantas flight attendant, and Jesse Baird, a TV presenter. Their bodies were discovered in February, leading to the arrest of Lamarre-Condon.
Initially, Lamarre-Condon had a prominent defense attorney, John Walford, representing him. However, in early November, the Legal Aid organization took over his case. Today, in Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court, Lamarre-Condon's lawyer submitted a 50-page affidavit requesting a 12-week extension of time. Magistrate David Covington noted that the affidavit included annexures and explained the need for the adjournment. He also mentioned that the case was recently taken up by Legal Aid after a senior public defender was assigned to it.
Covington also mentioned that there was a need for expert reports, which were not yet available. Initially, the prosecutors opposed the adjournment, stating that Lamarre-Condon's lawyers claimed they couldn't get him assessed by a forensic psychiatrist until 2025. They questioned whether enough efforts were made to find a specialist. However, today, the prosecutors did not oppose the application, and the magistrate granted the adjournment until February 4.
Lamarre-Condon, who is currently in custody, is accused of using his service weapon to shoot the men at Baird's home in the inner-city area. He then allegedly attempted to dispose of their bodies. The police believe that the attack was premeditated and part of a months-long campaign of "predatory behavior" targeting Baird, whom Lamarre-Condon had briefly dated before she entered a new relationship with Davies. The former senior constable is facing charges of domestic violence-related murder and break and enter with intent to commit an indictable offense.
The investigation began when possessions belonging to the victims were found in a skip bin in Cronulla, a suburb in southern Sydney. This led the police to Baird's share house in Paddington, where they found bloodstains. Eventually, the couple's bodies were discovered on February 27 inside surfboard bags at a rural property in Bungonia, near Goulburn, about 200km southwest of Sydney. Lamarre-Condon was relieved of his duties in mid-March.
Lamarre-Condon joined the NSW Police Force in 2019 and was previously known for running a celebrity blog. He had taken pictures with several A-listers, including Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez, Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, and Harry Styles. The National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT offers support to those who need it.
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