Attorneys for Beau Lamarre-Condon, a former police officer charged with the murders of TV presenter Jesse Baird and Qantas flight attendant Luke Davies, have unexpectedly stepped down from the case.
As reported by the Sydney Morning Herald, this development occurred just before Lamarre-Condon was due to appear at Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday.
The legal team, led by Alexander Terracini, informed the court of their withdrawal following an “issue that arose yesterday”. The details of this issue were not disclosed to the court, with Magistrate Christopher Halburd noting this was “appropriate” given the situation.
At 29 years of age, Lamarre-Condon has been detained for more than a year. According to SMH, this marks the second time a legal team has withdrawn from representing the former officer.
Authorities allege he utilized his service-issued Glock pistol to fatally shoot Baird and Davies in a Paddington terrace in February 2024.
The accusations suggest that Lamarre-Condon had developed an obsession with Baird, allegedly stalking him and vandalizing his vehicle prior to the incident. Baird’s friends reportedly heard about a “shadowy figure” seen at the foot of his bed weeks before the fatalities.
Following the legal team’s withdrawal, Sydney attorney Ben Archbold was appointed as the new representative for Lamarre-Condon.
Family members of the victims observed the court proceedings through a video link.
The prosecution, led by Brendan Donnelly, opposed further delays, arguing in court, “Negotiations have been ongoing for several months; there have been two case conferences. The Crown is prepared to proceed to trial. These alleged murders took place in February last year, and further delay is not desirable in these circumstances.”
Despite the prosecution's objections, Magistrate Halburd granted a six-week adjournment to allow the new legal team time to familiarize themselves with the case. Outside the courtroom, Lamarre-Condon did not respond to questions from journalists, while Archbold expressed gratitude for the adjournment, stating he would comment further after reviewing the case materials.
Lamarre-Condon’s mother, Colleen Lamarre, attended the court session to support her son, a rare occurrence. Police allege that after the murders, Lamarre-Condon purchased surfboard bags from a shop in Miranda to conceal the bodies, which were later found submerged in a dam outside Sydney. CCTV footage purportedly shows him buying a second surfboard bag on the day of the killings, and it is alleged he rented a white van for transporting the bodies.
Fifteen months after the deaths, Lamarre-Condon has yet to plead to the charges of domestic violence murder. The case is set to return to court in August.
