An Australian newsreader became emotional as she broke the news that a man had been arrested in connection with the murder of one of her colleagues and his partner.
Narelda Jacobs from Aussie’s Channel 10, gave the breaking news bulletin as police officer Beau Lamarre-Condon was charged with murdering missing TV presenter Jesse Baird, 26 and his boyfriend Luke Davies, 29.
Former host of Australian morning show Studio 10 Baird and his partner Davies were last seen on Monday (19 February) with a desperate search launching to find them.
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Police found clothes belonging to them bloodied and in a skip and said their families had been ‘unable to contact’ either of the men.
A public appeal for information was issued on Wednesday by New South Wales Police Force following the discovery of their clothes.
Police allege that the 28-year-old shot the couple with his police pistol at Baird’s home in Paddington, Sydney.
According to court documents, Baird and Davies were allegedly killed in the early hours of Monday, not long after they were last seen at a pre-Mardi Gras party at a Sydney nightspot.
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Police allege Lamarre-Condon hired a white van on Monday evening, which he used to dispose of their bodies.
It is then believed the officer returned the alleged murder weapon on Tuesday to a locked firearms safe at a police station and then took sick leave from his job.
In a press conference on Friday afternoon, Detective Superintendent Daniel Doherty from the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad In a press conference on Friday afternoon, Detective Superintendent Daniel Doherty from the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad confirmed two murder charges had been submitted.
Sharing news on Channel 10, Jacobs began to get emotional as she stumbled over her words.
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Paying tribute to the two men, she said: "They are both much-loved men with a wide circle of loved ones, family and friends who adore them.Luke of course has an enormously supportive workforce at Qantas – he was a flight attendant – and the same for Jesse at the AFL and here at Channel 10."
She later shared the footage to her Instagram page, where she wrote: “Honouring these two beautiful men on the darkest of days. Forever in our hearts Jesse Baird and Luke Davies.
“This devastating news was delivered through a trembling voice moments after the allegations were made by police.
“My thoughts are with Jesse and Luke’s families and their friends and colleagues at Channel 10, the AFL and Qantas. Our hearts are broken.”
Claire Reid