Police allege TV presenter's murder was ‘premeditated’ but his partner was killed for ‘just being there’ at the time

There's been an update in the horrific case following the tragic deaths of Jesse Baird and his partner Luke Davies.

Baird, 26, who worked as a red carpet reporter for Network 10’s morning show Studio 10, and Davies, 29, were last seen on 19 February in Paddington, a suburb of Sydney, New South Wales.

Two bodies were later found after officials expressed their 'grave concerns’ when a 'significant' amount of blood was discovered in Baird’s home, while their bloodied belongings were also found dumped in a skip in Cronulla, 17 miles away from the crime scene.

Police have now alleged that the TV presenter's murder was ‘premeditated’, but his partner was killed for just being present at the scene.

Network 10

New South Wales Police previously issued a statement after the bodies were found in the search for the two men.

It read: "As part of the ongoing investigations under Strike Force Ashfordby, homicide detectives attended a correctional facility about 11am today (Tuesday 27 February 2024), and spoke to a 28-year-old man.

"Investigators subsequently attended a second property on Jerrara Road, Bungonia, about 1pm this afternoon.

"At the property, human remains were located, and a crime scene was established, which is being forensically examined.

NSW Police

"While the bodies are yet to be formally identified, they are believed to be that of Luke Davies and Jesse Baird. A post-mortem examination will be conducted to confirm the cause of death.

"Investigations under Strike Force Asfordby continue."

Policeman Beaumont Lamarre-Condon – who is Baird’s ex-boyfriend – later handed himself in after being sought by police before he was arrested and charged with two counts of murder.

Since then, police have claimed that the tragic murder of Baird was premeditated by Lamarre-Condon and that Davies' death was simply a case of him being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Speaking to Channel Nine, assistant Commissioner Michael Fitzgerald announced that officers believed Lamarre-Condon went looking for Baird last Monday and also found Davies at the Paddington property.

Nine

"We will be strongly claiming in our case that this murder was premeditated, and the second murder occurred because of unfortunately Luke’s appearance at the house," he said.

Police previously alleged that Lamarre-Condon killed the couple at their home in Paddington using a police-issued handgun, hiring a white van to dispose of their bodies.

Detective Superintendent Daniel Doherty said a bullet matching Lamarre-Condon's service gun was found at Baird’s home, with the gun itself later found in a safe at the police station.

Topics: News, True Crime, Crime, Australia

Rhiannon Ingle

Rhiannon Ingle is a Journalist at LADbible Group. She graduated from the University of Manchester in 2021 in English Literature. Alongside her studies, she was the Lifestyle Editor of The Mancunian, the largest student newspaper in the United Kingdom. Her favourite topics to write about include sex and relationships, bizarre lifestyle trends and all things travel.