NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb regrets controversial use of language in ‘grateful to the accused’ comment

New South Wales Police Commissioner Karen Webb has clarified public comments she made expressing gratitude to the accused murderer of Sydney couple Jesse Baird and Luke Davies after drawing a barrage of criticism in the media.

Mr Baird and Mr Davies’s remains were found at a property in Bungonia in the state’s Southern Tablelands region on Tuesday, more than a week after the pair were reported missing.

Police revealed they had been led to the location by Beau Lamarre-Condon, the alleged perpetrator of the crime and a serving NSW cop, who was arrested on Friday after handing himself in.

Commissioner Webb, while confirming news of the discovery on Tuesday, opted for an unusual set of words and thanked Lamarre-Condon for helping investigators with the case: “I’d like to say also that this information did come with the assistance of the accused, for which we’re very grateful, and I’m sure the families are grateful”.

Questioned about the “baffling” statement on Wednesday, the Commissioner admitted she could have used more appropriate language but explained her intent was to acknowledge the significance of Lamarre-Condon’s concessions in helping police find the bodies.

“Certainly,” Ms Webb told First Edition host Pete Stefanovic when asked on having regrets about the comment.

“I’m not perfect and I could always do things better.

“But let me just put it this way – without that information we were still searching (for the bodies) and really yesterday was the watershed moment when we were actually able to tell the family that we had found Jessie and Luke and I think that’s an important distinction to make.

“Without that cooperation (from Lamarre-Condon) we would still be searching… it was like a needle in the haystack search. So, we’re glad we’ve found these beautiful young men.”

The state’s top police officer has also been criticised for her broader handling of the investigation, viewed by many as having lacked sensitivity given the serious nature of the crime.

Commissioner Webb was first criticised for her two-day delay in fronting the media since the surrender of Lamarre-Condon, followed by her labelling of the incident a “crime of passion” – a statement the LGBTQI+ community saw as invoking sentiments of gay hatred – and finally making a light-hearted comparison between scrutiny of the case and lyrics from a Taylor Swift pop song.

“There will always be haters. Haters like to hate. Isn’t that what Taylor says?” she said.

The Commissioner has defended her handling of the high-profile investigation and stressed having the support of NSW Premier Chris Minns and the Minister for Police Yasmin Catley.

The double murder probe remains underway with a number of specialist police units involved and remaining on site at the location in Bungonia where the bodies were found.

A line search is currently being undertaken at the site by forensic in what Commissioner Webb says are “painstakingly thorough” investigations involving detailed assessments of evidential items used to commit or cover up the alleged murders.

Mr Baird and Mr Davies’s bodies have been moved to the morgue and will be examined in post mortems in the coming days subject to the coroner’s discretion.  

Lamarre-Condon’s is currently facing two counts of murder and has been accused of shooting the couple dead with a police-issued firearm which would have required authorisation to be taken out of the station safe and stored at home during out-of-duty hours.