The discovery of the bodies of a couple, Jesse Baird and Luke Davies, shot and killed by an ex-boyfriend who was a police officer, has sent shockwaves across Australia. The bodies were found hidden under rocks and debris on a rural property near Bungonia, southwest of Sydney.
The ex-boyfriend, Senior-Constable Beau Lamarre-Condon, who dated Baird until late last year, was arrested and charged with the murder of the couple. He provided information to the police on Tuesday regarding the location of the bodies, leading to their discovery.
The use of a police officer’s service pistol in the alleged murder has raised concerns about gun handling procedures and firearm regulations in Australia, where handgun ownership is highly restricted. Police Commissioner Karen Webb emphasized the need to review procedures to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.
The tragedy has also impacted the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, with organizers requesting that police not march at the annual parade due to the distress within LGBTQ communities caused by the loss of the couple. The decision was made to exclude police from the parade this year, despite some opposition from state lawmakers.
The Mardi Gras, which began as a protest against homosexual discrimination in 1978, has historically included uniformed police officers marching as a gesture of respect and support. However, the exclusion of police from this year’s parade reflects the grief and anger felt by the LGBTQ community in the wake of the tragedy.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese acknowledged the progress made in police-LGBTQ community relations since 1978 but recognized the community’s grief and distress over the recent events. The decision to exclude police from the Mardi Gras parade underscores the profound impact of the tragedy on Australian society.
