Defendant alleges friend directed body disposal in double murder trial

Beau Lamarre-Condon told the jury that his friend, known to the court as Elizabeth Kennedy, told him to dispose of two bodies immediately. The 31-year-old former police officer is on trial for the double murder of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies. Lamarre-Condon claimed he wanted to report the deaths to the police, but Kennedy convinced him otherwise.

The alleged shootings took place on 19 February 2024 at Baird's home in Paddington. Lamarre-Condon used his police service weapon to fire the fatal shots. He has pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder and one charge of aggravated break and enter. His legal team argues that the victims were accidentally shot during an incident of self-defence.

Kennedy provided testimony last week. She stated that she believed Lamarre-Condon had picked her up to go out for lunch. She denied assisting with the disposal of the bodies and told the court she did not know what was happening. Lamarre-Condon's statement, read to the court on Tuesday, contradicted her account.

Lamarre-Condon alleged that Kennedy lied to police about her involvement. He stated he wanted to do the right thing by the victims' families because they deserved to know the truth. The defendant claimed that after picking up Kennedy, he showed her the bodies in the back of a van. He said he began to cry and asked if he should drive straight to the police.

Kennedy allegedly replied that the police would not believe him. She cited the Taylor Swift song No Body, No Crime and said they had to get rid of the bodies straight away. Lamarre-Condon warned Kennedy she could be charged as an accessory to murder. He told her she could walk away right now if she wished. Kennedy allegedly said she would help because he had helped her in the past.

The defendant claimed that Kennedy played the song on her phone while they drove. He said she began laughing at the situation. Lamarre-Condon alleged that Kennedy helped carry the bodies to a farm in Bungonia. He stated she helped pour concrete into bags to make them sink. He said that when a bag would not sink, Kennedy used his pocketknife to cut holes into the surfboard cover. He claimed this action caused the knife wounds found on Davies's leg.

Kennedy disputed these claims. She told the court she waited at a gate while Lamarre-Condon drove to a dam. She denied willingly assisting and noted that she is five feet tall and weighs 55 kilograms. She stated she could not carry a body even if she tried. She also claimed that Lamarre-Condon was the one who played the song in the car.

Lamarre-Condon handed himself into police at 10.37 am on 23 February 2024. Earlier that morning, he reported a psychological injury to a police assistance line. A recording of the call played to the jury showed him telling the operator he was suffering from anxiety and symptoms of schizophrenia. He asked the operator to delete the call and said the detectives were already aware he was being driven to a central police station. The trial continues before Justice Natalie Adams.