Mysterious 'Bob' Signal Message Sent to Accused Killer's Date Month Before Bodies Found
The NSW Supreme Court heard evidence detailing communications between the accused and his former Hinge date, including a cryptic message sent shortly before the discovery of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies' remains.
A mysterious message from someone named 'Bob' on the encrypted Signal app was sent to Beau Lamarre-Condon's Hinge date a month before the bodies of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies were found, the New South Wales Supreme Court was told.
Michael Cella, Lamarre-Condon's former Hinge date, stated that he began matching with Lamarre-Condon in March 2023 and they went on several dates until November of that year. Their outings included visits to Bondi Junction, watching "The Hunger Games" and a Taylor Swift film, and a trip to Lamarre-Condon's mother's home. During a suggested getaway to a $400-a-night cabin in November, Cella proposed an alternative: his father's property in Bungonia, approximately 200 kilometers south of Sydney.
During the Bungonia trip, Lamarre-Condon posted an Instagram story featuring highlights of their stay, accompanied by Taylor Swift's song 'You Belong With Me.' Upon their return to Sydney, Cella began noticing photos of Jesse Baird on Lamarre-Condon's Instagram. Lamarre-Condon reportedly claimed he was only friends with Baird, despite posting videos of themselves together, including one from the same cabin.
The two men stopped communicating regularly, and Cella blocked Lamarre-Condon and deleted their messages in January 2024.
On January 26, Cella received multiple calls from an unknown number, followed by messages on Signal from a user named 'Bob,' which read: 'Hey Michael!! Call me back.' Cella did not respond.
On February 25, police informed Cella that they believed Baird and his boyfriend Luke Davies' bodies were on his father's property. Their remains were discovered on the farm two days later.
Lamarre-Condon has pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder and one count of aggravated break and enter. He is accused of stealing Baird's phone and wallet in August 2023.
During the trial on Wednesday, a ballistics expert, Lucas Van Der Walt, testified about test shots conducted to determine gunshot angles at Baird's rental terrace in Paddington. The court had previously heard that Lamarre-Condon allegedly shot Baird in the temple as he lay on the floor, with the bullet reportedly penetrating the floor beneath.
Van Der Walt demonstrated through test shots that the bullet must have been fired almost vertically downwards. Lamarre-Condon's defense claims the gun went off during a struggle with Baird.
The expert also recreated a shot through Baird's bedroom door, which was removed for testing. Van Der Walt confirmed that the recreated bullet hole matched the original one 'one hundred percent.' The court also heard that a bullet allegedly fired through a door into Luke Davies' head was never found. Van Der Walt suggested it might have been lodged in a pillow or mattress and discarded when the room was cleaned.