Shock twist in case of accused killer cop Beau Lamarre-Condon that could cost Aussies a fortune
EXCLUSIVE
A shocking twist in the alleged double murder case against accused murder cop Beau Lamarre-Condon means taxpayers can now pay his astronomical legal bill.
The ex-Sydney police officer is accused of murdering Ten presenter Jesse Baird and his lover Luke Davies at Baird’s Paddington home in Sydney’s east on February 19.
Lamarre-Condon is then accused of dumping their bodies along a remote road in the Southern Highlands.
But a surprise late twist could mean massive legal delays and cost taxpayers nearly a million dollars if the 28-year-old decides to plead not guilty.
His lawyer, John Walford, a former detective who worked in the NSW Police for 20 years, was due to appear on Lamarre-Condon’s behalf next Monday.
A plea could have been entered at the hearing in Sydney’s Downing Center Local Court, after which the case could have been sent for trial.
But Legal Aid NSW has now told Mr Walford it has taken over Lamarre-Condon’s defense after he applied for public funding.
So far, Lamarre-Condon’s family has paid for his representation, but they would not be able to afford to finance a lengthy trial that could cost as much as $800,000.
Beau Lamarre-Condon, the former police officer accused of double murder, has filed for legal aid to fund a four-month trial that will cost $800,000.
Police allege Lamarre-Condon shot dead Luke Davies (left) and his partner Jesse Baird (right) at a Paddington house in February and then dumped their bodies in the NSW Southern Highlands
They recently applied for legal aid and that request appears to have been granted.
Sources told Daily Mail Australia that if Lamarre-Condon, who is currently in custody, pleads not guilty and goes to trial, the hearing could last up to four months.
With a defense team consisting of senior and junior counsel and an attorney, he would face an estimated legal bill of at least $800,000.
Lamarre-Condon is accused of murdering former Studio Ten presenter Baird and his Qantas flight attendant partner before turning himself in to police four days later.
The men’s bodies were found eight days after their deaths, wrapped in surfboard bags, in a rural area in Bungonia, 180 kilometers southwest of Sydney.
Mr Walford represented Lamarre-Condon for just over eight months and said his client was struggling to adjust to life behind bars as his legal team waited for the remainder of the criminal case against him to be served.
Lamarre-Condon, who was transferred from the protection wing of Silverwater prison to Australia’s most secret prison, the Special Purpose Center at Long Bay, had “mental health problems and he is deteriorating”, Walford said in July.
It’s likely that Legal Aid will have to start the case from scratch in Lamarre-Condon’s defense, meaning a trial date may not be set until next year and not until 2026.
Lamarre-Condon had an occasional romance with Jesse Baird (pictured together above), but Mr. Baird had not wanted to pursue a relationship
Jesse and Luke were reportedly shot dead at Mr Baird’s home in Paddington (above) and their bodies were stuffed into surfboard bags and driven 110 miles south-west to rural Bungonia
Lamarre-Condon’s family (pictured above, Beau with his mother Coleen and sister Jamila) funded his legal bills but could not afford the enormous costs of a four-month trial.
In July, Lamarre-Condon was hit with an additional charge for a heavy break and enter and the murder charges are said to be related to domestic violence.
Mr Walford had told Daily Mail Australia he hoped the matter could be resolved quickly.
“It was an interesting position to be in to be asked to do the job and we did a very good job, we thought, to the point where he had to change his plan,” he said.
‘I’m happy with what we’ve done so far. We wish the family a lot of strength in this. It’s a difficult thing.
“It’s a tragedy and the sooner it comes to justice the better, I think.”
There are already more than 20,000 pages of evidence that could be presented at trial.
Lamarre-Condon, a former celebrity hunter who posted photos of herself with international stars on social media (left, with Katy Perry in 2014), joined the NSW Police Force in 2019
Mr Baird and Lamarre-Condon had previously had a relationship which police described as an “on and off” romance, but Mr Baird had not wanted to pursue a relationship.
Lamarre-Condon, a former celebrity hunter who posted photos of herself with international stars on social media, joined the NSW Police Force in 2019.
The former senior constable was dismissed by NSW Police on March 22.
Mr Walford has previously said the murder charge could be ‘defensible’ and that In any case, Lamarre-Condon’s mental health would likely play a role he presented himself in court.
“Mental health is something we expect to come into play,” he said in March. “It certainly seems like there are things we need to look at that way.”
Daily Mail Australia sought confirmation that Lamarre-Condon received funding from Legal Aid NSW.
It replied: ‘The Legal Aid Commission Act prevents staff from disclosing information about whether legal aid has been provided or not, or disclosing information about the extent to which assistance has been provided.’