Outrage over ‘offensive’ mural of slain couple
An “offensive” mural depicting slain Sydney couple Luke Davies and Jesse Baird has been removed amid controversy over the graphic depiction of their alleged murder at the hands of a NSW police officer.
The young couple were allegedly murdered by Beau Lamarre-Condon at Mr Baird’s home, before being dumped at a remote property.
An explicit mural depicting what appears to be the alleged killing by a figure in a police-style uniform was spotted on an alley wall by Sydney residents this week.
The image, posted on Reddit, appears to show Mr Baird and Mr Davies laying down having allegedly been fatally shot, with a rainbow-coloured pattern seeming to be blood.
By Saturday morning, black paint covered the wall where the mural had been painted.
In a statement, police said they were called to Earl Pl at Potts Point on Wednesday following reports by a member of the public regarding “offensive graffiti”.
“The graffiti has since been painted over by the City of Sydney Council,” police said.
“Officers attached to Kings Cross Police Area Command are investigating the incident.”
A spokesperson for the City of Sydney confirmed the graffiti had been removed, adding that “the work depicted a violent act”.
“We remove such graffiti or posters as soon as possible,” the spokesperson said.
The alleged double murder sparked an outpouring of grief within the city’s LGBTQI community, as well as staunch pushback against the state’s police force.
NSW Police were initially told they were no longer invited to attend last month’s Mardi Gras parade, before organisers agreed they could do so but without uniforms.
Users online were quick to condemn the mural as “very confronting” and “in poor taste”, while some pointed out the alleged killings were not gay hate crime-related.
“I would say in poor taste given the recency of the (deaths) and with family and loved ones still very much in mourning,” one Reddit user said.
“I don’t think we should dismiss the role of the accused being a policeman though, just because he was gay.
“I do think it’s relevant and something that shouldn’t be dismissed quickly.”
Another user said they were “glad it was removed” and pushed back against early plans to ban police from the Mardi Gras parade.
“Plenty of gay police officers and officers that would find this disgusting that should not be punished,” they said.
“Just a step too far. It’s a tragedy, but far from a hate crime.”
Police have previously said they would allege in court the killings were likely domestic violence-related and not connected to the couple’s sexual identity.
Lamarre-Condon currently remains in police custody on remand. No pleas have been entered and he will reappear before court in April.
