Former officer reenacts fatal shooting in Sydney court

Beau Lamarre-Condon, a former police officer, provided a physical demonstration in a Sydney courtroom to illustrate how he claims he shot Jesse Baird. Acting out his movements from the witness box, Lamarre-Condon sought to clarify the sequence of events during the fatal encounter that took place in February 2024.

The accused is currently standing trial for the deaths of Baird and Baird's partner, Luke Davies. The shooting occurred inside Baird's home in the Sydney suburb of Paddington on 19 February 2024. Lamarre-Condon is alleged to have used his police service weapon to kill both men. He has entered not guilty pleas to two counts of murder and one charge of aggravated break and enter.

During cross-examination on Monday, Lamarre-Condon maintained his assertion that Baird was holding a knife while the two men struggled inside the residence. He stated to the court that the blade was positioned next to his throat, which prompted him to push Baird backward using his right arm. The jury was present as the former officer detailed this account.

Crown prosecutor Brett Hatfield asked Lamarre-Condon to stand up and physically demonstrate the actions he described. Hatfield instructed the accused to set aside his rosary beads before beginning the reenactment. The prosecutor then narrated the movements for the jury as Lamarre-Condon acted out the struggle.

Hatfield described the accused extending his left arm at shoulder height to push Baird's right hand, which held the knife, away from himself. The prosecutor noted that Lamarre-Condon's arm became fully extended during this motion. He then described the accused gesturing to pull a pistol from the area around his belt.

According to the prosecutor's description, Lamarre-Condon held the weapon at approximately chest or shoulder height. He demonstrated firing a shot with a bent elbow, aiming towards Baird's right shoulder. Lamarre-Condon confirmed to the court that he discharged a shot and stated that his aim was directed at Baird's right shoulder.

The former officer told the court that his arm extended during the struggle, though he could not specify the exact degree of extension. He emphasized that there was constant movement throughout the incident. Lamarre-Condon remarked that the events unfolded very quickly and that his account was as clear as he could make it.

During questioning, Hatfield pointed out an apparent discrepancy in Lamarre-Condon's testimony. The prosecutor noted that the officer had previously stated he was pinned down by Baird during the struggle. Hatfield asked if the accused was now suggesting something different by claiming there was constant movement. Lamarre-Condon responded that he was pinned immediately before he pushed back and fired the shot, while acknowledging prior movement.

Lamarre-Condon also provided details regarding the clothing of the victims. He stated that both Baird and Davies were wearing only their underwear and were not wearing shoes at the time of the incident. Earlier in the trial, during his evidence-in-chief, Lamarre-Condon stood by his decision to fire the first shot but described the second bullet as being fired accidentally. On Monday, he reiterated that he did not intend to fire that second shot at Baird.

The trial is presided over by Justice Natalie Adams and continues in the New South Wales Supreme Court.