EXCLUSIVE
A shocking twist in the alleged double murder case against accused cop killer Beau Lamarre-Condon means taxpayers could now foot his astronomical legal bill.
The former Sydney police officer is accused of murdering Ten presenter Jesse Baird and his lover Luke Davies at Baird’s home in Paddington, eastern Sydney, on February 19.
Lamarre-Condon is then accused of dumping their bodies on the side of a remote road in the Southern Highlands.
But an unexpected, late turn could mean massive legal delays and cost taxpayers nearly a million dollars if the 28-year-old decides to plead not guilty.
His lawyer, John Walford, a former detective who spent 20 years in the New South Wales Police, will appear on Lamarre-Condon’s behalf next Monday.
A guilty plea could have been entered at the hearing at Sydney’s Downing Center Local Court and the case could then be committed to trial.
But Legal Aid NSW has now told Walford it has taken over Lamarre-Condon’s defense after he applied for public funding.
Until now, Lamarre-Condon’s family has been paying for his representation, but they are said to be unable to afford to finance a lengthy trial that could cost up to $800,000.
Beau Lamarre-Condon, the former police officer accused of double murder, has applied for legal aid to finance what could end up being a four-month trial costing $800,000.
Police allege Lamarre-Condon shot dead Luke Davies (left) and his partner Jesse Baird (right) at a Paddington house in February and then dumped their bodies in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales.
They recently applied for funding for legal aid and it now appears that that request has been granted.
Sources told Daily Mail Australia that if Lamarre-Condon, currently behind bars on remand, pleads not guilty and goes to trial, the hearing could last up to four months.
With a defense team consisting of a senior lawyer and a lawyer, he would face an estimated legal bill of at least $800,000.
Lamarre-Condon is accused of murdering former Studio Ten presenter Baird and his fellow Qantas flight attendant before handing himself in to police four days later.
The men’s bodies were found eight days after their deaths, wrapped in surfboard bags, in a rural area of Bungonia, 180 kilometers southwest of Sydney.
Walford had represented Lamarre-Condon for just over eight months and said his client was struggling to adjust to life behind bars as his legal team waited for the rest of the prosecution’s brief against him to be delivered.
Lamarre-Condon, who was moved from the secure wing of Silverwater prison to Australia’s most secret prison, the Long Bay Special Purpose Facility, had “mental health issues and it is getting worse”, Walford said in July.
Legal Aid will likely have to start from scratch with its case defending Lamarre-Condon, meaning a trial date may not be set until next year and may not continue until 2026.
Lamarre-Condon had an on-again, off-again romance with Jesse Baird (pictured above, together), but Mr. Baird had not wanted to get into a relationship.
Jesse and Luke were allegedly shot dead inside Mr Baird’s Paddington home (above) and their bodies were put in surfboard bags and driven 180km southwest to rural Bungonia.
Lamarre-Condon’s family (pictured above, Beau with his mother Coleen and sister Jamila) funded his legal bills but were unable to pay the huge cost of a four-month trial.
In July, Lamarre-Condon was hit with an additional charge of aggravated breaking and entering and it was specified that the murder charges were related to domestic violence.
Walford had told Daily Mail Australia he hoped the case could be resolved quickly.
“It was an interesting position, to be asked to do the job and we did a very good job, we thought, to the point where he had to change his plan,” he said.
‘I’m happy with what we’ve done so far. We wish the family all the best in this regard. It is a difficult matter.
“It’s a tragedy and I think the quicker it comes to court, the better.”
There are already more than 20,000 pages of evidence that could be presented at trial.
Lamarre-Condon, a former celebrity hunter who posted photos of himself with international stars on social media (left, with Katy Perry in 2014), joined the New South Wales Police in 2019.
Baird and Lamarre-Condon had previously had what police described as an on-again, off-again romance, but Baird had not wanted to enter into a relationship.
Lamarre-Condon, a former celebrity hunter who posted photos of himself with international stars on social media, joined the New South Wales Police in 2019.
The former police officer was sacked by New South Wales Police on March 22.
Walford has previously said the murder charges “could be” defensible and that Lamarre-Condon’s mental health would likely be present in any case presented before the 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.”
Daily Mail Australia requested confirmation that Lamarre-Condon received funding from Legal Aid NSW.
He responded: “The Legal Aid Commission Act prevents staff from disclosing information about whether or not legal aid has been granted or about the extent to which aid has been granted.”