Waterway search expands in hunt for Sydney couple

Police looking for the bodies of a young couple believed murdered in Sydney's east have expanded the search area to a waterway inland, southwest of Sydney. Police divers assisting the investigation into the disappearance of former Ten reporter Jesse Baird, 26, and his boyfriend Luke Davies, 29, have been sent to a location in the Southern Tablelands. "As part of the ongoing investigation by Strike Force Ashfordby, police have established a crime scene in the Southern Tablelands," police said in a statement on Sunday afternoon. "As part of that search, divers from the Marine Area Command have been called in to assist with the search." Divers have also been seen searching a waterway at Lambton, Newcastle as part of the police probe into where the bodies of Mr Baird and Mr Davies could be located. Beaumont Lamarre-Condon, a serving NSW police officer, has been charged with two counts of murder following the men's disappearance. Lamarre-Condon did not make a bail application when he appeared at Waverley Local Court on Friday and his matter was next set down for April 23 in Downing Centre Local Court. Police said they believe the 28-year-old constable was in the Newcastle area the night before he handed himself in at an eastern Sydney police station on Friday. The couple's disappearance was considered suspicious when blood-stained possessions belonging to both of them were found in a skip bin in the southern Sydney suburb of Cronulla on Wednesday. The discovery led police to Mr Baird's blood-smeared share house, about 30km away in inner-city Paddington. NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said she understood there were still many unanswered questions, but asked the community for patience as police work to determine what happened. "I can reassure Luke and Jesse's loved ones, and the people of NSW, that we are working around the clock to find those answers," she said in a statement on Sunday. Ms Webb extended her "heartfelt condolences" to the families and friends of the missing men. "It is difficult to comprehend the grief and pain of their loss," she said. "I acknowledge this week's events are distressing for many and I share the sadness and shock about the alleged nature of Luke and Jesse's deaths." Ms Webb also apologised to the families of gay hate crime victims, after a special inquiry into past investigations found officers were "indifferent, negligent, dismissive or hostile". "To the victims and families that NSW Police failed by not adequately and fairly investigating those deaths between 1970 and 2010, I am sorry," she said. "I realise that this has meant missed opportunities to identify possible offenders as new leads emerged or as new forensic advances became available. "And I acknowledge the increased suffering experienced by victims and their families where the crimes were motivated by bias against members of the LGBTIQ community." Former Network Ten colleagues of Mr Baird paid their respects on social media while the AFL, for whom he was recently acting as an umpire, said their thoughts were with the men's families and the umpiring community. Mourners continue to lay floral tributes outside the Paddington terrace where police allege the murders took place. Lamarre-Condon, who up until days ago had an active social media presence, joined the police force in 2019. Photos posted online show the former celebrity blogger posing with dozens of A-listers including Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez, Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus and Harry Styles. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) Lifeline 13 11 14