Prison recording captures 31-year-old's admission of guilt in double murder trial

A 31-year-old man accused of killing two men in their Sydney home told a friend, 'I fully take accountability that you're involved because of me now,' during a covertly recorded prison visit last December, the New South Wales Supreme Court heard.

Beau Lamarre-Condon is charged with two counts of murder and one count of aggravated break and enter. He denies the charges. The shooting occurred on February 19, 2024, at the Paddington residence of Jesse Baird, who died alongside Luke Davies. Lamarre-Condon used his police service weapon in the incident.

On Monday, the court played a recording of a conversation between Lamarre-Condon and a friend whose identity is suppressed. The friend had recorded the visit on behalf of police. Earlier in the trial, the friend testified that Lamarre-Condon confessed to the killings, described the event as an 'out-of-body experience,' and then attempted to joke about the confession.

In the audio, Lamarre-Condon first asked the friend to turn around to verify he was not wearing a wire. The friend responded, 'You're so paranoid,' and urged him to calm down. The tension persisted as the friend noted, 'You put me in a scenario that's very difficult for me.' Lamarre-Condon apologized, leading to the statement about taking accountability for his friend's involvement.

The accused also disputed details in his friend's police statement. He accused the friend of lying 'about so much shit' regarding the motive. Lamarre-Condon claimed he acted in self-defense, contradicting the friend's recollection that he killed Davies to eliminate a witness. The friend pushed back in the recording, saying, 'Don't you dare switch up.'

Regarding the entry into Baird's home, Lamarre-Condon argued it was not a break and enter because Baird had provided a key cut. He admitted to trespassing but stated it was common to return to a former partner's home for belongings. He said he did not knock to avoid receiving an apprehended violence order, though he called out 'hello' upon entering.

The defendant argued the lack of preparation proved his innocence. He told the friend, 'If I had planned to do this mate, I'd be cool, calm, collected.' He claimed he would have had cleaning supplies ready and would not have used a police firearm, noting he could have purchased another gun for $10,000.

Lamarre-Condon also revealed he visited the Royal National Park in early 2024 with the friend. There, he tested the volume of his gunshots because he was planning to take his own life at that location. He cited suicidality stemming from work trauma as a factor in his state of mind. The trial before Justice Natalie Adams continues.