Beau Lamarre-Condon Trial: Accused Claims Self-Defence in Jesse Baird Shooting
Former police officer Beau Lamarre-Condon has testified in court, claiming he shot Jesse Baird in self-defence during a confrontation inside Baird’s home. The accused told the court that a struggle ensued after he entered the property, asserting that he only opened fire after he was cornered and threatened with a knife.
Accused Claims Victim Lunged with Knife During Kitchen Struggle
Lamarre-Condon detailed his arrival at the home, stating that he initially entered the residence to search for his belongings. He testified that after finding the living room mostly empty, he moved toward the kitchen where he encountered Baird. According to Lamarre-Condon, Baird was holding masking tape and a knife. The accused claimed he shouted that he was not an intruder, but alleged that Baird lunged at me
while refusing to acknowledge his identity. He testified that Baird yelled get f*ed c*
during the encounter.
Describing the ensuing physical struggle as a situation that felt like eternity,
Lamarre-Condon testified that he was pinned up against the wall
with the knife near his neck. He stated that his shirt was torn during the encounter and that he became convinced he was going to be dead
if he did not intervene. Lamarre-Condon told the court that he warned Baird to drop the weapon before ultimately discharging his firearm, claiming he aimed for Baird’s shoulder rather than his center mass to avoid a fatal outcome. He noted that as police, he was trained to shoot at the center mass, but stated, I had a split moment second where I said, drop the knife or I’ll shoot you.
Events Leading to the Shooting
Lamarre-Condon provided an account of his movements prior to the altercation, stating he had approached the house wearing high-visibility clothing and a helmet to conceal his identity. Upon arriving, he knocked on the front door three times, receiving no response, before pushing the door open to search for his items, noting the presence of two clothing racks and two storage boxes. He testified that upon hearing noises inside, he retreated upstairs to hide in a housemate’s bedroom, fearing he would be seen. After hearing a door shut, he descended to the living area.
The accused maintained that he had attempted to exit the house during the struggle but was unable to do so because Baird had too much adrenaline. He claimed that he feared he would be stabbed in the back
if he attempted to flee, leading to the decision to use his service weapon. Throughout his testimony, Lamarre-Condon appeared emotional, wiping away tears while recounting the moments before the shooting. He added that he believed that if he had not acted, he would be dead and Jesse Baird would be here instead.