Beau Lamarre-Condon: New lawyer steps in as delays hit case of ex-police officer accused of double murder

The case of a former police officer who allegedly killed his ex-partner and the man’s new boyfriend has hit a fresh snag after “issues arose” among his legal team.

Beau Lamarre-Condon, 29, has been charged with the murder of Channel 10 presenter Jesse Baird and Mr Baird’s boyfriend, Qantas flight attendant Luke Davies.

Mr Lamarre-Condon is accused of using his police firearm to kill the couple at a Paddington share house in Sydney’s east last February.

Police allege he then put their bodies in surfboard bags before taking them to a remote property near Goulburn in the NSW southern tablelands.

He was arrested four days after their bodies were found and has since been charged with two counts of domestic violence-related murder and one count of breaking and entering.

No pleas have been entered.

Lawyer Alexander Terracini, appearing on behalf of Mr Lamarre-Condon, told the court the alleged killer’s legal team was again being changed after “issues arose” on Monday.

“An issue has arisen which means we cannot continue in the matter,” Mr Terracini told the court.

Mr Terracini and his team have withdrawn from the case, with Legal Aid already appointing Benjamin Archibald, who is set to be delivered the brief of evidence, described by magistrate Chris Halburd as “fairly substantial”, as soon as possible.

The defence pushed to adjourn the case, given it was only handed over to Mr Archibald the day prior; however, Crown prosecutor Brendan Donnelly argued that further delays would be “unreasonable” given the alleged murders took place more than 16 months ago.

Mr Archibald said he’d done “everything in my power to be able to advance the matter” while pushing for a six-week adjournment.

“I’ve never seen a clearer case for a matter to go over,” Mr Archibald said.

Mr Halburd acknowledged the “serious allegations” before granting the application in a bid to give Mr Lamarre-Condon the opportunity to enter pleas and potentially receive a discounted sentence.

Mr Halburd said the matter had been before the court for “a long time” when handing down his decision, and the Legal Aid Commission should be congratulated for finding a new representative in only a day.

“Yes, the matter has been before the court for a long time, something has occurred, it’s appropriate that I don’t know what that is,” Mr Halburd said.

“These are complex matters, they’re always better progressed when people are represented, and certainly it’s in the interest of justice that I grant this application.”

The matter was adjourned until August for mention.

The court was in May told that a forensic psychiatric report on Mr Lamarre-Condon had been received.

Mr Lamarre-Condon had been in a brief relationship with Mr Baird, with police alleging the former officer exhibited a pattern of “predatory” behaviour in the lead-up to the alleged double-homicide.

While police allege Mr Lamarre-Condon planned to kill Mr Baird, they believe Mr Davies’ was a tragic, unplanned casualty.

Mr Lamarre-Condon, who switched to a Legal Aid lawyer in November 2024, has been dismissed from the NSW Police Force.