Prison Trial: Covert Recording Reveals Accused's Account

A 31-year-old former police officer told a friend in a December prison visit that he was not the cool, collected type when it came to fatal shootings. The statement was part of a covert recording played to a jury in Sydney this week. The audio captures Lamarre-Condon, who is accused of killing Jesse Baird and Luke Davies, describing his state of mind during the incident.

Lamarre-Condon faces two murder charges and one aggravated break and enter charge. He shot the couple at Baird’s home in Paddington on February 19, 2024, using his service weapon. He has pleaded not guilty to all three counts. The friend, whose name is suppressed, first testified on Friday. He returned to the stand on Monday when the police-provided recording was introduced as evidence.

During the conversation, the accused described the shooting as an out-of-body experience. He later tried to frame the event as a joke. The friend noted that Lamarre-Condon had put him in a difficult position by involving him in the case. Lamarre-Condon accused the friend of lying about specific details in a police statement, particularly the claim that he killed Davies to eliminate a witness. The defendant argued on the recording that he acted in self-defense instead.

The audio also covers the break and enter charge. Lamarre-Condon claimed the entry was not a break and enter because Baird had cut a key for him. He admitted to trespassing but said it was common to return to a former partner’s home to collect belongings. He stated he did not knock to avoid an apprehended violence order, though he called out hello after entering the house.

The defendant argued that if he had planned the crime, he would have been calm and collected. He said he would have had cleaning supplies ready and would not have used a police firearm. He mentioned he could have bought another gun for $10,000. He also told the friend he tested his weapon’s volume at Royal National Park in early 2024 because he planned to end his life there. He cited trauma at work as the cause of his suicidality.

The friend threatened to leave the meeting multiple times during the recorded session. He questioned the truthfulness of the account. Justice Natalie Adams is presiding over the trial, which continues in the New South Wales supreme court.