Police officer charged with murdering TV personality

A POLICE officer has been charged with the double murder of a TV presenter and his boyfriend in a case that has gripped Australia.

Beaumont Lamarre-Condo, 28, is accused of killing his former lover Jesse Baird, 26, and Mr Baird’s new partner, Luke Davies, 29, a flight attendant, on Monday after an alleged altercation.

The couple were reported missing earlier this week and authorities launched an investigation after bloodied clothes and credit cards belonging to both men were found in a skip near Mr Baird’s home, in the Sydney suburb of Paddington, on Wednesday.

When police searched Mr Baird’s home, they said they found “large amounts of blood”, upturned furniture and a bullet matching a police-issued gun. Neighbours later said they heard shouting at the home on Monday.

The bodies of Mr Baird and Mr Davies have not yet been recovered and police are now appealing to the public for any information about the movements of a white van they allege was hired by Mr Lamarre-Condo.

The vehicle was captured at the murder scene on CCTV footage on Monday evening and found in a southern Sydney suburb yesterday morning.

Police believe Mr Lamarre-Condo hired the van later that day to dispose of the bodies.

Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty said: “It’s important we get the movements in relation to that van, as hopefully we can find the bodies and this is important for the family. They’re obviously devastated by the news.”

Mr Lamarre-Condo, who was a senior constable attached to a specialist command, handed himself in at Bondi police station yesterday morning after calling in sick earlier in the week.

He was charged after investigators linked the police firearm discharged at Mr Baird’s home to his work-issued gun.

He did not turn up to work on Tuesday, but his gun was located in a safe at a police station, Det Supt Doherty said.

Mr Baird had been a presenter and red-carpet reporter on Network 10’s morning show until the programme was scrapped in December, while Mr Davies was a flight attendant for Qantas.