Mother of man accused in Jesse Baird, Luke Davies double murder charged with attempting to influence witness
Coleen Lamarre, mother of former police officer Beau Lamarre-Condon, has been charged with intending to pervert the course of justice after allegedly attempting to influence a key witness in the upcoming trial for the 2024 murders of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies. The couple, found dead in surf bags in Bungonia, were shot with a police-issued firearm at Baird’s Paddington home. Lamarre was arrested in Balmain, refused bail, and the matter has been adjourned for further proceedings. Lamarre-Condon, who had a prior relationship with Baird, denies two counts of murder and aggravated break and enter. The trial is set to begin in September 2026 in the NSW Supreme Court, following delays due to legal representation changes and psychiatric assessment. Over 200 witnesses are listed by the Crown, though this may be reduced.
ABC News Australia provides the most complete and procedurally detailed coverage, particularly regarding court logistics and legal representation. RNZ and ABC News Australia offer similar foundational reporting but lack the depth of judicial process and upcoming trial timeline found in ABC News Australia. RNZ includes unique detail about Lamarre-Condon’s removal from police service, absent in others. ABC News Australia is the most concise, omitting several contextual elements present in the other two.
- ✓ Coleen Lamarre, the mother of former police officer Beau Lamarre-Condon, was charged with intending to pervert the course of justice for allegedly attempting to influence a key witness in the double murder trial of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies.
- ✓ Beau Lamarre-Condon has pleaded not guilty to the murders of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies, who were killed in 2024.
- ✓ Baird and Davies were shot with a police-issued firearm at Baird’s home in Paddington, Sydney.
- ✓ Their bodies were later discovered in surf bags in Bungonia, approximately 200 kilometers south of Sydney.
- ✓ Coleen Lamarre was arrested in Balmain around 11:15 a.m. on Wednesday and taken to Day Street Police Station.
- ✓ She was refused bail and is scheduled to appear in court following her arrest.
- ✓ Beau Lamarre-Condon had a prior brief relationship with Jesse Baird.
- ✓ The murder case has experienced delays, including due to changes in Lamarre-Condon’s legal representation and a forensic psychiatric assessment.
Timing and court proceedings for Coleen Lamarre
States she is due to appear in court on Thursday but provides no details about the court hearing or judicial officer.
Provides specific details: case appeared before Judge Lucas Swan in virtual Bail Division court; no bail application made; next listing set for May 14; defense sought a listing for Tuesday to apply for bail; judge questioned the estimated two-hour hearing length.
Specific charge wording
Uses 'intending to pervert the course of justice' and specifies 'allegedly trying to influence a key witness to change their evidence'.
States she was charged with 'doing an act intending to pervert the course of justice' — the full legal phrasing — and quotes police directly.
Status of the murder trial timeline
Notes the matter was committed for trial in the NSW Supreme Court but does not specify a start date.
Specifies that the Supreme Court trial is 'due to begin in September'.
Additional legal context and procedural details
Mentions Lamarre-Condon was removed from NSW Police a month after arrest.
Includes that Lamarre-Condon denies not only murder but also one count of aggravated break and enter; notes over 200 witnesses on Crown list, possibly to be reduced.
Defence representation and procedural motions
Names defence lawyer Mickaela Mate acting as agent for John Walford; notes bail application timeline; includes prosecutor’s comment on DPP possibly taking over; records judge’s skepticism about two-hour estimate.
Do not mention defence lawyers or procedural motions related to bail.
Headline specificity and naming
Uses full name 'Beau Lamarre-Condon' and frames the charge as 'intending to interfere with witness'.
Uses 'Condon’s mother' and frames as 'case of intending to influence... in court', emphasizing judicial process.
RNZ
Framing: RNZ frames the event as a serious escalation in an ongoing high-profile case, emphasizing the mother’s direct involvement in obstructing justice and her visible presence in court. The focus is on the legal charge and its implications within the broader murder investigation.
Tone: formal and factual, with a focus on procedural seriousness and familial involvement
Framing By Emphasis: Headline uses full name 'Beau Lamarre-Condon' and specifies 'intending to interfere with witness', emphasizing legal gravity.
"Beau Lamarre-Condon's mother accused of intending to interfere with witness"
Comprehensive Sourcing: Includes detail about Lamarre-Condon’s removal from NSW Police, which adds institutional context not in other sources.
"Mr Lamarre-Condon was officially removed from the NSW Police force a month later."
Narrative Framing: Mentions mother previously seen in public gallery, humanizing her involvement.
"Ms Lamarre has previously been spotted in the public gallery during his court appearances."
Proper Attribution: Uses formal legal charge language: 'intending to pervert the course of justice'.
"charged Coleen Lamarre with intending to pervert the course of justice"
ABC News Australia
Framing: ABC News Australia frames the event as a straightforward legal development, focusing on the core allegation without expanding on judicial process or familial context. The shorthand naming suggests assumed public familiarity.
Tone: concise and neutral, prioritizing brevity over depth
Framing By Emphasis: Headline uses shorthand 'Condon's mother', reducing full name usage and personalizing by surname only.
"Condon's mother accused of witness interference"
Omission: Omits key contextual details such as removal from police force, trial start date, and bail hearing specifics.
"The matter was last year committed for trial in the NSW Court"
Vague Attribution: Repeated use of passive constructions like 'has been charged' without detailing court process.
"charged Coleen Lamarre with allegedly attempting to influence"
Balanced Reporting: Provides basic facts without procedural depth, suggesting minimal editorial expansion.
"She has been refused bail and is due to appear in court on Thursday."
ABC News Australia
Framing: ABC News Australia frames the event as part of an evolving judicial process, emphasizing court logistics, legal representation, and systemic context. The focus is on the mechanics of the justice system response.
Tone: detailed and procedural, with a focus on institutional process and legal timelines
Framing By Emphasis: Headline emphasizes judicial process: 'case... in court', signaling focus on legal proceedings over personal drama.
"Condon's mother case of intending to influence double murder trial witness in court"
Comprehensive Sourcing: Names judicial officer (Judge Lucas Swan), defence agent (Mickaela Mate), and includes procedural skepticism about hearing length.
"Judge Lucas Swan... said the estimate 'seems to be somewhat excessive'"
Comprehensive Sourcing: Specifies the murder trial is 'due to begin in September', providing forward-looking context absent in others.
"His Supreme Court trial is due to begin in September."
Comprehensive Sourcing: Notes over 200 witnesses on Crown list, indicating scale of prosecution effort.
"more than 200 witnesses on the Crown's witness list"
Proper Attribution: Includes direct quote from police: 'influence a key witness to change their evidence', enhancing attribution.
"Police said she allegedly attempted to 'influence a key witness to change their evidence'"
Comprehensive Sourcing: Mentions possibility of DPP taking over case, indicating prosecutorial gravity.
"decision had not yet been made on whether the Director of Public Prosecutions would elect to take over"
Condon's mother case of intending to influence double murder trial witness in court
Condon's mother accused of witness interference in Jesse Baird, Luke Davies murder case
Beau Lamarre-Condon's mother accused of intending to interfere with witness in Jesse Baird, Luke Davies murder case