She understood the system, yet allegedly tried to work around it anyway
In the shadow of a double murder trial that has already unsettled public trust in Australian institutions, a mother now stands accused of reaching into the machinery of justice itself. Coleen Lamarre, 63, was arrested in Balmain and charged with perverting the course of justice — allegedly attempting to alter a witness's testimony in the case against her son, former police officer Beaumont Lamarre-Condon, who faces trial in September for the alleged murders of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies in February 2024. The charge, carrying up to 14 years in prison, reminds us that the gravitational pull of a serious crime rarely confines itself to the accused alone, drawing family, institutions, and public faith into its orbit.
- A mother's alleged interference with a key witness has introduced a new fault line into an already fractured legal proceeding.
- Coleen Lamarre was refused bail and will face the bail division court Thursday, escalating the stakes for a family already at the center of national scrutiny.
- Her son's trial — concerning the alleged shooting deaths of TV presenter Jesse Baird, 26, and Qantas flight attendant Luke Davies, 29 — is scheduled for September and expected to run two to three months.
- The case has already strained institutions: police marched in plainclothes at Sydney's Mardi Gras, a former commissioner apologized for calling the killings a 'crime of passion,' and the defense team has cycled through multiple lawyers.
- With a witness tampering charge now layered onto the original murder case, questions about trial integrity and the reach of outside influence are moving to the foreground.
Coleen Lamarre, 63 and a former NSW police employee herself, was arrested in Balmain this week and charged with perverting the course of justice — an offence carrying a maximum 14-year sentence. Authorities allege she attempted to pressure a key witness into altering their testimony ahead of her son's murder trial. She was refused bail and is due before the bail division court on Thursday.
Her son, Beaumont Lamarre-Condon, is a former NSW police officer accused of shooting Jesse Baird, 26, and Luke Davies, 29, at Baird's inner Sydney home in February 2024. The couple's remains were later found inside surfboard bags at a rural property near Bungonia, some 200 kilometres from the city. Lamarre-Condon joined the force in 2019 and was terminated shortly after the alleged murders; before policing, he had run a celebrity blog and photographed himself alongside figures like Taylor Swift and Harry Styles.
The case has reverberated well beyond the courtroom. When the murders occurred in the lead-up to Sydney's Mardi Gras, the event's board asked police not to march; officers participated anyway, but in plainclothes. Former commissioner Karen Webb drew fierce criticism for calling the killings a 'crime of passion' and later apologized, clarifying she had meant only to distinguish the case from a homophobic hate crime. Lamarre-Condon's legal representation has also shifted repeatedly, with Legal Aid withdrawing and a new solicitor now at the helm.
The trial is set to begin in September and run two to three months. The witness tampering charge against his mother now adds a troubling new dimension — suggesting that efforts to shape the outcome of the case may extend beyond the defendant himself, and raising pointed questions about the integrity of the proceedings still to come.
Coleen Lamarre, 63, was arrested in Balmain this week and charged with perverting the course of justice—a crime that carries up to 14 years in prison. The charge stems from allegations that she attempted to pressure a key witness into changing their testimony in her son's trial. She was refused bail and will face the bail division court on Thursday.
Her son is Beaumont Lamarre-Condon, a former NSW police officer accused of murdering two men in February 2024. The victims were Jesse Baird, a 26-year-old television presenter, and Luke Davies, a 29-year-old Qantas flight attendant. Police allege that Lamarre-Condon shot both men with his service pistol at Baird's home in inner Sydney, then attempted to dispose of their bodies. The couple's remains were discovered on February 27 inside surfboard bags at a rural property near Bungonia, roughly 200 kilometers southwest of the city.
Coleen Lamarre herself is a former NSW police employee, which adds another layer to the case. Her son joined the force in 2019 and was terminated a few weeks after the alleged murders. Before his police career, he ran a celebrity blog and posted photographs alongside high-profile figures including Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez, Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, and Harry Styles.
The case has already drawn significant public attention and institutional scrutiny. When the alleged murders occurred in the lead-up to Sydney's Mardi Gras, the Mardi Gras board requested that police not participate in the parade. The NSW Police Force proceeded anyway, but officers marched in plainclothes rather than uniform. Former police commissioner Karen Webb faced criticism for describing the case as a "crime of passion," language that drew fierce backlash. She later apologized, clarifying that she had intended to distinguish the case from a hate crime motivated by homophobia.
Lamarre-Condon's legal representation has shifted multiple times. He was initially defended by high-profile lawyer John Walford, who was replaced in November 2024. Legal Aid subsequently withdrew from the case, and he is now represented by solicitor Ben Archbold. The trial is scheduled to begin in September and is expected to last two to three months.
The witness tampering charge against his mother now complicates an already complex proceeding. It raises questions about the integrity of the trial process itself and suggests that efforts to influence the case may extend beyond the defendant to his family members. As the trial date approaches, the case continues to unfold in ways that test both the legal system and public confidence in how such serious allegations are handled.
Citas Notables
Former police commissioner Karen Webb described the case as a 'crime of passion,' later apologizing and clarifying she meant to distinguish it from a hate crime— Karen Webb, former NSW police commissioner
La Conversación del Hearth Otra perspectiva de la historia
Why would a mother risk her own freedom by trying to influence a witness? What was she hoping to accomplish?
That's the question at the heart of this. She may have believed she could protect her son by undermining the prosecution's case before trial even began. If a key witness changes their story or becomes unreliable, it weakens the evidence against him.
But she was a former police officer herself. She would have known the consequences.
Yes. That's what makes this so stark. She understood the system, understood the law, and allegedly tried to work around it anyway. It suggests desperation—or a belief that family loyalty supersedes legal obligation.
The son had already been fired from the force. Was there any hope left for him at that point?
Legally, yes. Dismissal from the police force and criminal charges are separate matters. But symbolically, he was already gone from the institution. His mother may have seen the witness tampering as a last chance to alter the trajectory.
Does her arrest change how the jury will view the case?
It could. It suggests a pattern of attempting to obstruct justice, which might make the jury more skeptical of the defense overall. Or it might be kept separate from the trial entirely, depending on how the judge rules. Either way, it adds weight to the narrative that this case involves people willing to break the law to protect themselves.
What happens to her if she's convicted?
Up to 14 years in prison. But she'll likely face trial herself before her son's trial even concludes. The legal system will be processing both of them simultaneously.