A friend testified that former New South Wales police officer Beau Lamarre-Condon inquired about purchasing a gun silencer before the alleged murders, stating he needed one “to scare someone”. This friend also recounted that Lamarre-Condon mimicked shooting, making a finger gesture and saying “pew pew” when describing how he killed the victims. Lamarre-Condon’s lawyers have confirmed that a mental health defense will not be used at trial.

These revelations provide new details about the events leading to the alleged double murder and could significantly impact the ongoing trial. The testimony offers a direct account of Lamarre-Condon’s alleged actions and statements, potentially influencing the jury’s perception of premeditation and intent in the deaths of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies, matters of profound importance to the victims’ families and the wider community.

What the records show

During testimony on October 23, 2026, a friend of Beau Lamarre-Condon, whose identity is suppressed, told the New South Wales Supreme Court about travels overseas in late 2023. While abroad, Lamarre-Condon allegedly told the friend, “I need to find a spot … to purchase a silencer,” explaining he was going hunting on a mate’s farm. The friend separately testified that Lamarre-Condon repeatedly asked where he could acquire a gun silencer, allegedly claiming it was “to scare someone”.

The friend also recounted that on February 19, 2024, the day of the alleged murders, Lamarre-Condon arrived at his workplace. He stated Lamarre-Condon said, “I’ve done something” and then “I’ve killed people”. When asked how, Lamarre-Condon made a finger gesture mimicking a firearm and said “pew pew”. He further described, “I shot the first one through the head and the second one through the door”. The friend stated Lamarre-Condon later tried to pass it off as a joke via FaceTime, asking, “Did you like my Oscar performance?” to which the friend responded, “That’s not a joke you’re mentally with me”. Lamarre-Condon then confirmed, “Okay, it is real but I don’t want you to tell anyone”.

Lamarre-Condon’s defense lawyers confirmed during a directions hearing on July 18, 2026, that a mental health defense will not be used in the trial. This decision narrows the legal arguments expected to be presented to the jury.

The timeline

In late 2023, Lamarre-Condon allegedly discussed purchasing a gun silencer with his friend while overseas. On February 19, 2024, Jesse Baird and Luke Davies were fatally shot at Baird’s Paddington home. A friend of Lamarre-Condon testified that on the day of the alleged murders, Lamarre-Condon confessed to him, describing the killings with a “pew pew” gesture. By July 18, 2026, Lamarre-Condon’s legal team confirmed they would not pursue a mental health defense. The double murder trial began in September 2026 before Justice Natalie Adams in the NSW Supreme Court in Sydney, where it is currently ongoing.

What changed and for whom

The friend’s detailed testimony, particularly regarding the silencer inquiry and the “pew pew” confession, presents direct evidence of Lamarre-Condon’s alleged state of mind and actions before and after the killings. This testimony, if accepted by the jury, could reinforce the prosecution’s argument of premeditation. The defense’s decision to forego a mental health defense removes a potential avenue for mitigating criminal responsibility, focusing the trial squarely on whether the killings were accidental self-defense or intentional murder. These developments directly affect the legal strategies of both the prosecution and defense, and hold profound implications for the families of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies as they seek justice.

What the subject has said publicly

Beau Lamarre-Condon has pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder and one charge of aggravated break and enter. His defense counsel, John Stratton SC, has argued that Lamarre-Condon acted in “self-defense” during an unexpected confrontation inside Baird’s home, claiming the firearms were discharged accidentally or reactively under perceived threat. The defense also asserts that Lamarre-Condon “panicked considerably” after realizing both men were dead, which led to the disposal of the bodies and clean-up of the scene.

What we could not confirm

We could not confirm the exact date Lamarre-Condon allegedly sought the silencer, beyond it being in late 2023. We could not confirm the specific location overseas where the silencer inquiry took place. We could not confirm the suppressed identity of the friend who testified.