A grieving friend of late TV host Jesse Baird has accused NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb of using inappropriate language to describe accused murderer Beau Lamarre-Condon during her ‘trainwreck’ press conference on Tuesday afternoon.
The commissioner had made a point of telling reporters she was ‘grateful’ for Lamarre-Condon’s assistance in locating the bodies of Baird and his boyfriend Luke Davies at a property in Bungonia, about 180km south of Sydney, that morning.
Lamarre-Condon, a NSW Police senior constable, was charged with two counts of murder on Friday, but waited until 11am on Tuesday – after speaking with his lawyer – to allegedly tell police where they could find the bodies of the two young men.
Ms Webb – who was earlier criticised for describing the alleged double murder as a ‘crime of passion’ – said at the press conference: ‘We are very confident that we have located Luke and Jesse.
‘I’d like to say, also, that this information did come with the assistance of the accused, for which we’re very grateful and I’m sure the families are very grateful.’
Mitch Swanson, who was good friends with Baird, was incensed when he saw Ms Webb once again cause offence with her thoughtless choice of words.
The bodies of Luke Davies (left) and Jesse Baird (right) were discovered on Tuesday after their accused murderer, Beau Lamarre-Condon, allegedly told officers where he had dumped them
In announcing the discovery of the bodies, NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb (pictured) said the force was ‘grateful’ to Lamarre-Condon for allegedly revealing where they were
‘Saying how GRATEFUL they are to [Lamarre-Condon] for revealing information is just another blow to his family and friends,’ Mitch Swanson wrote.
‘He deserves no form of thanks at all. The police handling of this is an absolute trainwreck.’
Mr Swanson shared another scathing review of Commissioner Webb’s wording on his Instagram story.
‘Heartbroken all over again. The boys have been found,’ he said.
‘We are not grateful in any shape or form that the accused assisted police in finding the bodies of our dear friends.
‘What a f**ked up thing to say!’
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Mr Swanson and NSW Police for comment.
Commissioner Webb’s controversial comments followed a bungled attempt to recover public perception after calling the deaths of Baird and Davies a ‘crime of passion’.
Jesse Baird’s friend Mitch Swanson (pictured, left, with Baird) slammed Commissioner Webb’s use of the word ‘grateful’
In several online comments (one pictured), Mr Swanson said Baird’s loved ones are not ‘grateful’ to his alleged murderer and described police’s ‘handling of this’ as an ‘absolute train wreck’
Earlier on Tuesday, Commissioner Webb called out public scrutiny of her description by saying: ‘There will always be haters.’
‘Haters like to hate … isn’t that what Taylor [Swift] says?,’ she told Sunrise.
However, any recovery made was quickly undone by her use of the word ‘grateful’.
The suspected bodies of Channel Ten host, Mr Baird and his Qantas flight attendant boyfriend Mr Davies, were discovered on a property in Bungonia, south of Sydney, on Tuesday afternoon.
Police are ‘confident’ the remains are Baird’s and Davies’ but forensic testing has not yet confirmed their identities.
It’s alleged that Lamarre-Condon, a senior constable in the NSW Police Force, shot the couple at Baird’s terrace home in Paddington, inner Sydney, last Monday.
The officer allegedly shot the two with his police Glock pistol.
A vigil for Baird and Davies will be held at Bronte Beach’s brick wall, in eastern Sydney, on Tuesday night.
Lamarre-Condon handed himself into Bondi Police Station on Thursday where he was charged with two counts of murder on Friday.
However, he allegedly refused to tell police where Baird’s and Davies’ bodies were until a lawyer advised him to assist with the investigation on Tuesday.
Homicide Squad Commander Danny Doherty did not reveal what state the bodies were discovered in but noted they were ‘covered in debris’.
Baird’s and Davies’ remains were allegedly transported to the crime scene on Jerrara Road, about 20 minutes from investigators’ original search site, in surf bags.
A vigil for Baird and Davies (pictured together) will be held at Bronte Beach’s brick wall, in eastern Sydney, at 7pm on Tuesday
It’s alleged Lamarre-Condon shot the couple at Baird’s terrace home in Paddington (pictured) last week
Det Supt Doherty alleged Lamarre-Condon acted alone in killing the couple.
‘We will allege he acted alone and he is the sole person responsible for putting the bodies of Luke and Jesse at the current location,’ he said.
Lamarre-Condon has been suspended without pay from NSW Police and will next appear in court in April.
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