Beau Lamarre-Condon’s mother charged after allegedly attempting to influence key witness in double murder trial

Lead

The mother of a former New South Wales police officer accused of murdering two Sydney men has been charged with attempting to influence a key witness in her son's upcoming trial. Coleen Lamarre, 63, was arrested at her home in Balmain on Wednesday and charged with doing an act intending to pervert the course of justice, an offence that carries a maximum penalty of 14 years' imprisonment.

Police allege Ms Lamarre attempted to "influence a key witness to change their evidence" in the double murder trial of her son, Beau Lamarre-Condon, who has pleaded not guilty to the murders of Jesse Baird, 26, and Luke Davies, 29. The couple died in February 2024.

Coverage Comparison

Reports from ABC Australia and The Guardian broadly align on the core facts: Ms Lamarre's arrest, the charge, and her refusal of bail. ABC Australia, which published two separate articles on the matter, noted that Ms Lamarre was arrested about 11:15am and taken to Day Street Police Station. The Guardian added context about the case, including that Mr Lamarre-Condon was sacked by the NSW police force weeks after the alleged murders and that the bodies of the victims were found in surfboard bags at a rural property in Bungonia, near Goulburn.

All three reports confirm that Mr Lamarre-Condon's trial is scheduled to begin in September. The Guardian also reported that former police commissioner Karen Webb made comments about the case, describing it as a "crime of passion," and later apologised for those remarks.

Key Claims

• Charge against Coleen Lamarre: Multiple sources report that Ms Lamarre was charged with perverting the course of justice after allegedly attempting to influence a key witness. The charge was laid by homicide detectives, and she was refused bail.
• Bail proceedings: At a virtual bail division court appearance on Thursday, Ms Lamarre's defence indicated there would be no bail application. The judge formally refused bail and adjourned the case until May 14, to allow prosecutors time to decide whether the Director of Public Prosecutions would take over the proceedings. Defence estimated a future bail application would take two hours, a figure the judge described as "somewhat excessive."
• The underlying murder case: Mr Lamarre-Condon, a former NSW police officer, is accused of shooting Mr Baird and Mr Davies with his police pistol at Mr Baird's inner-city home before attempting to dispose of their bodies. The bodies were found on 27 February 2024 inside surfboard bags at a rural property in Bungonia. He has pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder.
• Trial timeline: Mr Lamarre-Condon's trial is due to begin in September and is expected to last two to three months. According to one report, the Crown's witness list includes more than 200 witnesses.
• Employment status: Mr Lamarre-Condon was sacked by the NSW police force a few weeks after the alleged murders, as reported by The Guardian. He had joined the force in 2019 and previously ran a celebrity blog.

Perspectives

The case has drawn significant public attention, partly because of the involvement of a former police officer and the high-profile nature of the victims. Mr Baird was a former television presenter, and Mr Davies was a Qantas flight attendant. The alleged murders occurred in the lead-up to the Sydney Mardi Gras, prompting the Mardi Gras board to request that police not march in the parade. Police ultimately participated in plainclothes.

Former police commissioner Karen Webb faced criticism for comments she made about the case, which she later apologised for. The Guardian reported that she described the killings as a "crime of passion," a characterisation that drew backlash from LGBTQ+ advocacy groups and others.

Legal experts note that the charge against Ms Lamarre is serious, given the maximum penalty of 14 years. The case also raises questions about the integrity of the trial process, as attempts to influence witnesses are treated as a significant interference with the administration of justice.

As the legal proceedings continue, both Ms Lamarre and her son remain in custody. The court has scheduled the next hearing for May 14, and the trial of Mr Lamarre-Condon is set to proceed in September.