Host chokes up at colleague’s likely death

A newsreader who used to work with missing TV presenter Jesse Baird has given an emotional tribute to her former colleague as she had to announce live on air that a suspect had been charged with his murder.

Channel 10’s Narelda Jacobs said Baird, 26, and his partner Luke Davies, 29, who is also suspected of being killed, were “adored”.

The pair were allegedly murdered inside Mr Baird’s home in Paddington, in Sydney’s east, on Monday.

Mr Baird’s former partner, celebrity blogger turned police officer Beau Lamarre-Condon, has since been arrested and charged with the couple’s murders after he turned himself into police on Friday morning.

Colleagues of Mr Baird and Australian media figures have taken to social media to pay tribute to the “beloved” reporter.

But newsreader Narelda Jacobs had a particularly tough task – announcing live to viewers that her former Studio 10 colleague had likely been killed.

She posted a clip to Instagram of the on air announcement.

Jacobs looked heartbroken reading the update. At moments it looked like she was struggling and close to tears – no surprise considering she had worked with Mr Baird – but she managed to get through the segment with poise.

She also added a tribute to the two alleged victims.

“They are both much-loved men with a wide circle of loved ones, family and friends who adore them,” she said.

“Luke of course has an enormously supportive workforce at Qantas where he was a flight attendant and the same for Jesse at the AFL and here at Channel 10.

“Our thoughts are with their loved ones, their colleagues, their friends and their families at this very traumatic time.”

“Newsroom heartbroken,” Ten News First veteran reporter Sandra Sully wrote as she shared Mr Riminton’s tribute on X.

Fellow colleague Lachlan Kennedy looked to the words of a country song in his tribute on X.

“His talent was undeniable and energy infectious. Jesse Baird has had the brightest of futures stolen from him,” Mr Kennedy wrote.

“For years we chatted footy, utes and country music, so because I can’t find the words right now, I’ll let Cody sing it.”

Channel 10 presenter and meteorologist Josh Holt praised My Kennedy’s touching tribute.

“Well said Lach, such a shining light to all that knew him,” Mr Holt commented on Mr Kennedy’s post.

Support for the couple’s family and friends, as well as the Channel 10 newsroom has flowed in from reporters at opposition stations, with Channel 9 reporter Allan Raskall describing the deaths as “unfathomable”.

“So sad and unfathomable,” he wrote on X.

“Thinking of Jesse and Luke’s loved ones and the Ten family.”