Luke Davies’ ‘heartbreaking’ final texts
The friend of a man allegedly murdered along with his boyfriend by a Sydney police officer has revealed the pair’s heartbreaking final messages.
Luke Davies was allegedly murdered by police officer Beau Lamarre-Condon at his partner Jesse Baird’s Paddington home on February 19.
The pair’s bodies were located by police earlier this week at a remote property, with Constable Lamarre-Condon now facing two charges of murder.
In an emotional television interview, Mr Davies’ long-time friend, Dean Bailey, revealed he received messages from the flight attendant the morning of his death.
“We’d always send funny Instagram memes back and forth to each other, and I received one at 9.18am the morning of the incident,” Mr Bailey told Sunrise.
“It was a funny meme, followed by a crying laughter emoji, which is pretty much what Luke was like. You could picture him physically laughing as he sent that message.”
“To know that within 30 minutes after that, things took a turn for the worse and the unimaginable happened. It’s heartbreaking to think what went on (after the message)”.
Joel McCoy, another friend of Mr Davies, added in the interview to Sunrise that it was particularly hard to learn Mr Davies may not have been the intended victim.
“I think it was really upsetting to hear that he kinda wasn’t actually meant to be there when it all unfolded,” Mr McCoy said.
“So, yeah, it does kinda change things a little bit and make it even harder again to grieve and accept that was just wrong place, wrong time.”
In an interview with Nine News, NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Michael Fitzgerald said police would allege Mr Baird was Constable Lamarre-Condon’s sole intended target.
“We will be strongly claiming in our case this murder was premeditated and the second murder occurred because of, unfortunately, Luke’s presence at the house,” he said.
Friends and families are expected to again gather this weekend for further vigils honouring the late couple following heartfelt scenes this week.
A group of at least 60 people gathered on Tuesday in Bronte in Sydney’s east for a touching vigil honouring Mr Davies.
The group did not make any speeches for the Qantas flight attendant and instead toasted Mr Davies in front of a framed portrait.
Mr Davies’ employer, Qantas announced on Thursday that it would also be paying tribute to the 29-year-old at the upcoming Mardi Gras parade.
In a statement, Qantas executive manager cabin crew Leeanne Langridge said it was an “incredibly sad time for those who worked alongside Luke Davies”.
“Luke was a much-loved member of the Qantas cabin crew community in Brisbane and Sydney,” she said.
“He will be deeply missed. The whole team at Qantas are thinking of Luke and Jesse’s loved ones.”
Police will allege Lamarre-Condon killed the couple with his service firearm.
He allegedly then transported their bodies to a property near Bungonia before returning soon after and relocating them to a second property.
The bodies of Mr Baird, 26, and Mr Davies, 29, were later found in surfboard bags dumped along the fence near the entrance to the property following a widespread search.
