Channel 10 stars have shared touching tributes to former presenter Jesse Baird and his friend Luke Davies after the pair were reportedly shot dead by a police officer.
Police allege celebrity hunter and police officer Beau Lamarre-Condon, 28, shot the pair with his police pistol at Mr Baird’s home in Paddington, in Sydney’s east.
Lamarre-Condon handed himself in to police in Bondi and faced Waverley Local Court on Friday afternoon. He is accused of two murders.
Mr Baird, 26, was a well-known TV personality and had worked as a presenter at Channel 10 since January 2017, including stints on children’s programs Totally Wild and Studio 10.
Former Channel 10 presenter Jesse Baird, 26, (right) and his new partner Luke Davies, 29, (left) were reportedly shot dead at Mr Baird’s home in Paddington, in Sydney’s east
Channel 10 star Hugh Riminton led the moving tribute to Mr Baird on social media, describing him as a ‘much-loved young colleague’ (pictured)
National Affairs editor and anchor at 10 News First, Hugh Riminton, described Mr Baird as a “much-loved young colleague” in a message shared with X on Friday.
“RIP my beloved young colleague, Jesse,” Riminton wrote.
‘Happy with a new man – and that, it is said, was the problem. Condolences also to the family and friends of Luke Davies. Lots of tears tonight.”
Colleague and veteran Channel 10 presenter Sandra Sully shared Riminton’s post with the caption “editors heartbroken,” followed by three broken heart emojis.
Abbie Chatfield also paid a moving tribute to Mr Baird, explaining that he was the first person she met when she started at the network.
The Australian media personality, TV presenter and radio presenter described Mr Baird as ‘lovely, friendly and funny’.
‘I am so devastated by the news about Jesse Baird and Luke Davies. While working at Channel 10, we crossed paths frequently during our time there,” Chatfield wrote.
“Jesse was one of the first people I met in 10th grade, when I was fresh off the Bachelor. I went to an industry event and didn’t know anyone. I was really intimidated, and he introduced himself and let me cling to him all night, introducing me to people, reminding me who was who and making sure I was comfortable.
“He was kind, friendly and funny and gave me the time of day when I was just a single girl and a lot of people didn’t really want to talk to me.”
Australian media personality, TV presenter and radio presenter Abbie Chatfield said she was ‘devastated’ by the couple’s deaths and claimed Mr Baird’s ‘kindness left a lasting impression’.
Chatfield said she hoped “justice was served in the most serious way possible.”
“This is a huge loss not only for those close to the two men, but for the queer community as a whole. Rest in peace,” Chatfield wrote.
According to court documents, Mr Baird and Mr Davies, 29, were both murdered by Lamarre-Condon in Paddington between 12.01am and 5.30pm on Monday.
The shooting is said to have taken place just hours after they were last seen alive during a pre-Mardi Gras party at the Beresford Hotel in Surry Hills on Sunday.
Later Monday evening, Lamarre-Condon rented a white Toyota HiAce van from Mascot and allegedly used it to remove the couple’s bodies, police said.
Detectives believe Lamarre-Condon returned the alleged murder weapon to a locked gun safe at a police station on Tuesday.
He took sick leave from the NSW Police for the remainder of the day and was unable to return to work on Wednesday.
Constable Beau Lamarre-Condon (pictured) was charged with the murders of flight attendant Luke Davies and former Channel 10 presenter Jesse Baird
Bloodied clothing and other belongings, including credit cards belonging to former Mr Baird and Mr Davies, were dumped in a bin in Cronulla on Wednesday.
That discovery led police to Mr Baird’s home in Paddington, where pools of blood and blood-spattered furniture were found, causing serious anxiety for the new lovers.
Detective Chief Inspector Danny Doherty from the Homicide Unit said police had linked a bullet cartridge found at the property to a police weapon.
“Police located a projectile that had been fired as well as a fired cartridge casing within the property,” Detective Inspector Doherty said.
“This has now been physically linked to a NSW Police firearm and forms part of the evidence for the alleged offenses to appear in court for this 28-year-old man.”
The bodies of Mr Baird and Mr Davies have yet to be found.
Lamarre-Condon did not apply for bail during his court appearance on Friday and is scheduled to appear again on April 23.