Hundreds of people have gathered to remember Jesse Baird and Luke Davies at a silent vigil in Sydney on the eve of Mardi Gras celebrations.
Mr Baird and Mr Davies were allegedly murdered by cop turned celebrity hunter Beau Lamarre-Condon at their home in Paddington in the city’s affluent eastern suburbs on February 19.
The bodies of Mr Davies, 29, and Mr Baird, 26, were found on Tuesday in surfboard bags near the fence line of a rural estate in Bungonia near Goulburn, about 200 kilometers south-west of the city.
Friends and family gathered (pictured) to hold a silent vigil in Sydney for Jesse Baird and Luke Davies
The wake was organized with the permission of the couple’s families and was held at Green Park in the nearby suburb of Darlinghurst.
The vigil is planned on the eve of the annual Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade, where organizers are expected to recognize the couple.
Hundreds of people showed up to mourn the couple as many of those gathered in the park struggled to contain their emotions.
Vigil participants were seen comforting each other and dozens of people laid bouquets of flowers at the vigil site.
Mr Baird’s friends and colleagues said he was “the life of every party”.
“His life-loving attitude was infectious and it was a pure joy to be with him,” they said.
“That’s what we want to carry with us, how fortunate we were to know and adore him.”
Many of those gathered at Green Park in Darlinghurst (pictured) struggled to keep their emotions in check
Friends comforted each other during the wake (photo)
The families of Mr Baird and Mr Davies gave permission for mourners (pictured) to gather at the wake on Friday
Independent Member for Sydney Alex Greenwich and Sydney Mayor Clover Moore (pictured left) were also in attendance
The vigil (pictured) was held on the eve of the annual Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade
Many of Mr Baird’s friends and colleagues who attended the wake (pictured) remembered him fondly
Independent Member for Sydney Alex Greenwich and Sydney Mayor Clover Moore also attended the vigil.
Mr Greenwich said his office, along the Oxford St parade route, was overwhelmed by the need from the community.
“These tragic deaths remind us that we must redouble our efforts to improve the safety and wellbeing of LGBTIQA-plus people in NSW,” he said
Organizers of the Mardi Gras parade are expected to pay tribute to Mr Baird and Mr Davies.
Mardi Gras board chairman Brandon Bear said the LGBTQI celebration will be a more somber event than usual for some people.
“Everyone brings what they bring to Mardi Gras… if you come along to parade on Saturday, there will be a space for you, we will hold that space for you and you can be part of our community space in that,” he said Friday .
Mr Baird and Mr Davies were allegedly murdered by former NSW police officer Beau Lamarre-Condon (pictured a painting of Mr Baird and Mr Davies)
People laid bouquets of flowers at the site of the wake
Mourners gathered at the wake (pictured) not far from the Sydney suburb of Paddington, where Mr Baird and Mr Davies were allegedly murdered at a property
Qantas will honor Mr Davies on its Mardi Gras parade float, while the AFL is expected to announce a tribute in the coming weeks for Mr Baird, who officiated 62 matches, including two finals.
NSW police officers will march in the parade without uniform after reaching a compromise with organizers after previously not being invited after Lamarre-Condon was charged.
Police Chief Karen Webb said she would not attend the planned vigil because she did not want to interfere with the grief of mourners.
She will attend the Mardi Gras parade on Saturday.
More tributes are planned for Mr Baird and Mr Davies during the Mardi Gras parade on Saturday (attendees pictured gathered at the vigil)