Beau Lamarre-Condon has accused the Crown prosecutor of deliberately withholding evidence during his trial, as he denied that past suicidal thoughts were evidence of a plan to murder Jesse Baird and Luke Davies.
The former police officer told the court he had struggled with suicidal thoughts after dealing with dead bodies and traumatised victims during his career. He said those experiences, along with alleged suicide attempts, were being misconstrued as proof of premeditation.
Lamarre-Condon said he had planned to take his own life in the Royal National Park in October 2023. He told the court the rope came loose, causing him to fall, before he returned home.
He said his mother later noticed rope burns on his neck and urged him to see a psychologist. Medical records from the Bondi Medical Centre showed he told doctors he was not experiencing suicidal thoughts.
Lamarre-Condon said he had been afraid of losing his job if he disclosed the truth about his mental health. Crown prosecutor Brett Hatfield SC challenged that account, asking why he had considered using a rope when he had access to a gun.
“I was too scared to use my gun because … it’s very traumatic for the people who find them,” Lamarre-Condon said.
When Mr Hatfield asked whether he had therefore decided a rope would be better, he replied: “Yes, just like many of my other colleagues who have guns who decide to hang themselves, Mr Crown.”
The prosecutor put it to Lamarre-Condon that the alleged suicide attempt had not been genuine. “You weren’t suicidal, you were homicidal,” Mr Hatfield said, suggesting he had been upset by Mr Baird’s “rejection of you”.
Lamarre-Condon rejected that suggestion, saying: “God sees everything, God knows my intentions, that was not one of them.”
The prosecutor also questioned why Lamarre-Condon had not left the police force, given evidence that he had earned $120,000 as an officer and a further $100,000 on the side. Lamarre-Condon said a million-dollar mortgage was “one of the reasons” he had remained in the job.
Mr Hatfield referred to earlier evidence in which Lamarre-Condon said he feared dismissal after hearing that a managing sergeant would terminate the employment of anyone placed on a mental health plan.
Lamarre-Condon then accused the Crown of “hiding witnesses from the jury”. He said two people could have given evidence about his suicidal thoughts and his mortgage, but the Crown had refused to call them.
“Mr Lamarre, you can call whatever witnesses you like,” Mr Hatfield replied. “You can call any witnesses.”
Lamarre-Condon said he had asked for the witnesses to be called but had been told they were not relevant. Mr Hatfield questioned whether the alleged suicidal thoughts and attempts had anything to do with the murder charges, and accused him of trying to gain sympathy from the jury.
Lamarre-Condon said the evidence was relevant because he had to live with the fact that he had spoken to colleagues shortly before they took their own lives.
The prosecutor also questioned him about a trip to Bali over New Year in 2023-24. Lamarre-Condon agreed he had been considering buying property there, but said that did not mean he was not suicidal.
Mr Hatfield further pointed to his search for a silencer in Bali. Lamarre-Condon said he had wanted to take his own life without anyone finding his body, while the prosecutor suggested that buying a silencer for that purpose was unnecessary.
