Jesse Baird was asked to leave his Paddington rental by his two female housemates after disagreements over the condition in which the home was being kept.
One of the women, who gave evidence under the pseudonym Belinda Smith for legal reasons, told the court she had first lived with Baird in a larger share house in Drummoyne from 2022.
While they were living in Drummoyne, Baird introduced her to Beau Lamarre-Condon. Smith said Baird told her the pair were in a romantic relationship.
After that lease ended, Smith and Baird chose to find a home of their own. They moved with Smith’s female friend, identified in court as Sarah King for legal reasons.
The trio began renting a property on Brown Street in Paddington on April 1, 2023.
Asked by Crown Prosecutor Brett Hatfield SC whether she and Baird were friends, Smith replied: “We were cordial, but didn’t socialise outside the house.”
Smith said Baird told her he and Lamarre-Condon had ended their relationship in early 2023. However, she saw Lamarre-Condon at the Paddington property in August that year.
During a short conversation, Lamarre-Condon told her he had organised a New Year’s Eve holiday in Bali for himself and Baird, including “nice accommodation”.
The court was also shown text messages exchanged between Smith and King.
The messages centred on the nature of Baird’s relationship with Lamarre-Condon.
In one message, a housemate wrote: “Lots to fill you in on, Beau stayed last night lol.”
The response was sarcastic: “Just friends though.”
The women also discussed Lamarre-Condon driving Baird to Newcastle to pick up a new car.
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One housemate responded: “[Oh my god] just as friends though lol pretty sure Beau lives with his parents.”
Smith told the court she later questioned Baird about what was happening between him and Lamarre-Condon.
She raised the planned Bali trip and suggested Lamarre-Condon might regard the relationship as more serious than Baird did.
In November 2023, Baird allegedly told Smith that he had woken during the night and discovered Lamarre-Condon looking through his phone.
Smith said Baird was “very angry” about the incident.
The court heard the tenancy agreement was scheduled to end on March 29, 2024.
Smith and King wanted to extend the lease, but planned to bring in another female friend and have Baird leave the property.
‘Were there some issues about the way the house was kept?’ Mr Hatfiend asked.
‘Yes,’ Ms Smith replied.
She said Baird was initially upset when he was asked to move out because he had wanted to stay on the lease, but he agreed to find alternative accommodation.
Ms Smith told the court that conversation took place in January or February 2024 – just weeks before he died.
‘We remained cordial,’ she said.