Beau Lamarre-Condon told a court he earned about $120,000 a year as a police officer and supplemented his income through a swimwear business and the sale of Hermès Birkin bags, as he gave evidence for a third day over the alleged murders of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies.
The former police officer said he had gone to Mr Baird’s home to collect his belongings, including a Cartier ring worth $24,000. He said he had been concerned that an apprehended violence order could jeopardise his career.
Asked how he could afford expensive items, Lamarre-Condon said he worked extra shifts and had two side businesses.
“I also have a business on the side … I have a swimwear line and I put a lot of the money into Bitcoin,” he told the court.
He also said he sold Hermès Birkin bags, making profits of between $10,000 and $100,000.
Beau Lamarre-Condon questioned over Uber Eats clothing
Lamarre-Condon said he entered the house carrying his police gun because leaving it unattended in a car was illegal. He told the court he had decided to wear an Uber Eats outfit after seeing it in a partly open bag near Mr Baird’s home.
Crown prosecutor Brett Hatfield SC questioned him about whether taking the clothing could amount to theft.
“I wasn’t intending on stealing [the outfit], I was intending on putting it straight back,” Lamarre-Condon said.
He said the bag contained a high-visibility jacket, a rain jacket and waterproof trousers, and that he had taken the clothing because it was raining.
Asked whether he had viewed the clothing as a plan, he replied: “To avoid getting an AVO, I thought it was worth it to avoid getting an AVO.”
Lamarre-Condon maintained he had not intended to commit larceny because he planned to return the outfit after using it.
He also told the court that he had been “freaking out” after the alleged murders, despite appearing calm on CCTV. He said his police training had taught him to remain composed in the face of tragedy.
His voice trembled as he said he had initially planned to hand himself in, adding: “The bodies were in the back of the van, I could have still gone to police.”
When Mr Hatfield asked whether that was a serious answer, Lamarre-Condon replied: “Yes that is a very serious answer, I don’t find this funny, I don’t see this as a joke.”
He was also questioned about appearing relaxed while visiting Decathlon with a friend and later laughing and licking his fingers at Sushi Train in Cronulla.
Lamarre-Condon said footage shown by the Crown did not include the full recording. He said the complete footage showed him putting his hands to his temples in distress while speaking to his friend.
“This is someone I cared about … Jesse was someone who I cared about and just because you don’t see it on camera doesn’t mean I don’t care,” he said.
“I’m freaking out.”
