EXCLUSIVE
Accused cop killer Beau Lamarre-Condon has finally faced the harsh reality he faces as the former celebrity hunter sinks into despair in his prison cell.
Lamarre-Condon is accused of murdering former Studio Ten presenter Jesse Baird and Qantas flight attendant Luke Davies in the inner-city Sydney suburb of Paddington in February.
He has been in protective custody at the Metropolitan Reception and Detention Center in Silverwater, in Sydney’s west, for the past two months and his mental state is deteriorating.
“He’s not doing very well at the moment,” a source close to the 28-year-old told WhatsNew2Day Australia.
Accused cop killer Beau Lamarre-Condon has finally come to grips with the harsh future he faces as the former celebrity hunter sinks into despair in his prison cell.
“Obviously it is now clear what happened, the accusations and where he is.” I think the rot has set in mentally. It’s at a low point right now.
He is very depressed. He has hit rock bottom.
The former police officer was dismissed by the New South Wales Police Force on March 22 and is due to appear in court for a second time on Tuesday, when a brief of evidence will be given.
He is awaiting a psychiatric evaluation due to take place in May and has hired attorney Tomislav Bicanic to work with attorney John Walford.
Bicanic was admitted to the New South Wales Bar in 2018 and was described by a colleague as “very, very competent”. He is a protégé of noted silkmonger Tony Bellanto.
Walford is a former detective who served 20 years with the New South Wales Police, where he was a senior criminal investigator, qualified criminal analyst and prosecutor.
Lamarre-Condon has been in protective custody at the Metropolitan Reception and Detention Center in Silverwater (above) for the past two months and his mental state is deteriorating.
He told WhatsNew2Day Australia that once the Director of Public Prosecutions had presented a summary of evidence, he could seek legal instructions from Lamarre-Condon.
“My intention is to move forward as quickly as possible,” Walford said. “He wants to get the report and get going.”
Walford has previously said that Lamarre-Condon’s mental health would like to feature in any defense case he presents in court.
“We hope that mental health comes into play,” he said in March. “It certainly seems like there are things we need to consider that way.”
Police allege that Lamarre-Condon shot and killed Mr. Baird, 26, and Mr. Davies, 29, with his service pistol at Mr. Baird’s home on February 19 and then dumped their bodies two days later in Southern Tablelands.
Baird and Lamarre-Condon were previously involved in what police described as an on-off romance, but Baird had not wanted to enter into a relationship.
Lamarre-Condon is accused of murdering former Studio Ten presenter Jesse Baird, 26, and Qantas flight attendant Luke Davies, 29, in the inner-city suburb of Paddington on 19 February.
Lamarre-Condon, who regularly posted photos of himself with international stars on social media, surrendered to police in Bondi on February 23.
After appearing briefly in court that day, Lamarre-Condon was transported to the MRRC, where he was placed in protective custody due to his status as a police officer.
Prison authorities also considered him potentially at risk because he was accused of extremely serious crimes, had attracted media attention and had never been in prison before.
The detective spoke to Lamarre-Condon at the MRRC on February 24 after receiving legal advice from Mr Walford.
Police later located the bodies of Baird and Davies at a property in Bungonia, about 180 kilometers southwest of Sydney.
Lamarre-Condon is under constant camera surveillance in his prison cell and is not allowed contact with any other inmates.
Lamarre-Condon is being held in what is known as an observation camera cell that allows correctional officers to monitor him 24 hours a day. The MRRC cells at Silverwater are shown above
On February 29, after Lamarre-Condon was behind bars for six days, Walford told WhatsNew2Day Australia his client was coping with his new surroundings.
“It’s all right,” said Mr. Walford. ‘He’s fine.’
A NSW Correctional Services spokeswoman said the department did not comment on the circumstances of any individual inmate, but prison sources were able to outline some of Lamarre-Condon’s security arrangements.
Lamarre-Condon is being held in what is known as an observation camera cell that allows correctional officers to monitor him 24 hours a day.
Regular physical checks are also carried out to ensure no damage has been done to their sparse accommodation, which is in a relatively new section of the 27-year-old prison.
It is the most extreme security available at the MRRC and Lamarre-Condon is completely isolated from all other prisoners at the facility.
Prison authorities do not necessarily consider Lamarre-Condon to be a particular risk for suicide, but his circumstances combine to suggest he would be vulnerable in prison.