Beau Lamarre-Condon continued giving evidence for a third day on Monday.
He had previously told the court that he went to Jesse Baird’s home on the day of the alleged murders to collect personal belongings, including a Cartier designer ring valued at $24,000.
On Monday, prosecutors questioned Lamarre-Condon about how he was able to afford such expensive items. He said he had two additional sources of income.
Lamarre-Condon said his annual police salary was approximately $120,000, largely because he worked numerous extra shifts.
“I also have a business on the side … I have a swimwear line and I put a lot of the money into Bitcoin,” he said.
He also told the court that he sold Hermès Birkin handbags, earning profits ranging from $10,000 to $100,000.
The former police officer said he chose to visit the house while Baird was away because he wanted to avoid an apprehended violence order, or AVO, which he feared could threaten his career.
He said he took his police firearm inside because leaving it unattended in a car would have been unlawful.
Lamarre-Condon told the court he decided to wear an Uber Eats uniform after spotting it inside a bag left on the street near Baird’s home.
Crown prosecutor Brett Hatfield SC asked whether he had been worried that taking the clothing could result in a theft charge.
“I wasn’t intending on stealing [the outfit], I was intending on putting it straight back,” he said.
Mr Hatfield asked: “So you got this idea because there might be an outfit in a bag that you could use?”
Lamarre-Condon replied: “Mr Crown, I want to remind you that it was raining and there was a jacket and waterproof pants.
“The bag was partly open and I could see the high-vis jacket.”
Mr Hatfield asked: “And then you thought, ‘This is a plan, this is a jacket I can wear’?”
He replied: “To avoid getting an AVO, I thought it was worth it to avoid getting an AVO.”
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Mr Hatfield then asked: “What about a charge of theft or stealing?”
Lamarre-Condon said he had not intended to commit larceny, which would require taking the items without returning them.
He maintained that he planned to return the uniform after using it.
Lamarre-Condon also told the court he was “freaking out” after the alleged murders, although CCTV footage did not appear to show him distressed. He said his police training had taught him to remain calm.
His voice trembled as he said he had initially considered surrendering to police over the deaths of Baird and Davies.
“The bodies were in the back of the van, I could have still gone to police,” he said.
When asked whether he was being serious, Lamarre-Condon replied: “Yes that is a very serious answer, I don’t find this funny, I don’t see this as a joke.”
Mr Hatfield questioned why Lamarre-Condon appeared relaxed when he entered a Decathlon store with a friend, hours after the alleged murders.
He again said his police training had taught him to stay composed in the face of tragedy.
“It doesn’t mean I wasn’t sitting in the shower crying before that,” he said.
“This is someone I cared about … Jesse was someone who I cared about and just because you don’t see it on camera doesn’t mean I don’t care.”
Mr Hatfield also asked whether he had been distressed while “licking his fingers and laughing” at Sushi Train in Cronulla after the alleged murders.
Lamarre-Condon accused the Crown of failing to present the complete footage.
He said the full recording showed him placing his hands on his temples while distressed.
“I’m putting my hands to my temples, I’m talking to [my friend], he’s looking down at the table, we are not laughing,” he said.
“I’m freaking out.”