Jesse Baird murder trial: Housemate testifies on surfboard bags

The scene in the courtyard

Real talk: this is a heavy situation. In the ongoing trial for the murders of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies, Baird’s housemate—referred to in court by the pseudonym 'Belinda Smith'—testified about the night the two men were killed.

Beau Lamarre-Condon, 31, is facing trial for the fatal shooting of Baird and Davies on February 19, 2024, using his service weapon. He has pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder and one charge of aggravated break and enter. The defense has argued the shooting was an act of self-defense following a struggle.

On the evening after the incident, Smith returned home to find two surfboard bags covered by a blue tarp in the courtyard. She noticed a red liquid leaking from the bags. In a moment that’s giving total confusion, she snapped a photo and sent it to another housemate, Sarah King. Smith testified that she honestly thought the liquid was just “rusted water from the outdoor furniture.”

The plot thickens

When asked by crown prosecutor Brett Hatfield SC, Smith confirmed she had never seen Baird surf or own surfboards, but at the time, it didn't register as a red flag.

Earlier in 2024, things had been tense in the house after the housemates asked Baird to move out. He was supposed to vacate on February 20. When Smith saw his stuff still there that morning, she felt uneasy. Messages were then sent from Baird’s phone—which prosecutors allege were not from him—claiming he’d hired someone to move his gear and might be heading on a road trip to Perth. By February 22, the surfboards were gone, and the liquid had been cleaned up.

The outcome

It was only five days later that the bodies of Baird and Davies were discovered inside those same surfboard bags near a rural monastery in Bungonia. The defense team claims Lamarre-Condon panicked after the incident and tried to clean up the scene.

Why it matters

This testimony is a crucial part of the prosecution's effort to piece together the timeline of events immediately following the killings. The court is now examining how the scene was handled in the days before the discovery of the bodies, providing a grim look at how a crime scene can be hidden in plain sight.