POLICE have confirmed a white van alleged to have been used to transport and dispose of the bodies of missing TV star Jesse Baird and Luke Davies was reportedly seen in Newcastle.
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At a media stand-up on Friday, State Crime Command Homicide Squad Detective Superintendent Daniel Doherty confirmed 28-year-old police officer Beau Lamarre has been arrested and charged with two counts of murder over the deaths.
Police allege a white Toyota HiAce with NSW registration CW82PM was hired from an address at Mascot at 9.30pm, February 19. The car has since been located at Grays Point, seized and is being forensically examined.
Detective Superintendent Doherty said police had received information the van had been seen in the Newcastle area overnight.
"Throughout the information and through the media reporting there has been people coming forward and obviously from yesterday's media stand-up with Superintendent Radmore, people have come forward," he said on Friday.
"There was a sighting and we allege he was in the Newcastle area at that time.
"The information is still ongoing but it has provided us with some timelines that probably last night he [Lamarre] was in the Newcastle area, left there sometime early this morning, travelled to Grays Point and that's where the car has been located," he said.
Lamarre has been formally refused bail by police and is expected to face court on Friday or Saturday.
Lambton residents woke on Friday to police tape which had cordoned off Karoola Road while officers combed the area for clues and photographed the contents of a bucket under a tree.
Karoola Road resident Alex Sunderland was one of many who were interviewed by police as they canvassed the street, which stayed cordoned off from about Tathra Road to Durham Road all day.
"I got the knock this morning after they cordoned it off to see if we had cameras," she said.
"They were looking for the white van and cameras to show when it came and went.
"The cops said there was no risk to the public. I asked what's going on and they said, 'sorry I can't disclose'."
Liam Pankhurst also spoke with police after they knocked on his door about 9.50am.
"He just asked us if we'd seen anything or had any footage," he said.
"I didn't hear anything last night, that I can think of."
The white van was captured on CCTV footage at a Paddington home on Monday, shortly before former TV presenter Mr Baird and boyfriend Mr Davies were last seen.
Detective Superintendent Doherty said the white van was reported by witnesses at Paddington and Cronulla.
"... we are appealing to members of the community that might have seen that van," he said.
"We're trying to get a timeline of movements, the locations where it's travelled and anyone who has been seen with that van from Monday night through to this morning.
"We will allege in court that van was used to transport bodies and dispose of bodies."
Detective Superintendent Doherty said finding out the movements of the van could prove a critical link to locating the bodies of Mr Baird and Mr Davies.
"It's really important we know the movements in relation to that van as hopefully we can find the bodies and this is important for the family," he said.
"In terms of the family our thoughts and condolences go out to the family, they've received the news of the charging and what the charges are, which is murder.
"They're obviously devastated by the news, we believe there's sufficient evidence to proceed with those charges due to the evidence we've gleaned to date.
"It's really important that we do locate the bodies not only for cause of death but also for the answers for the family, because they're still grieving and in a state of grief now."
Mr Davies, a 29-year-old Qantas flight attendant, and his partner, 26-year-old former TV presenter, Mr Baird were last seen on February 19.
Police launched a search for the two men after Mr Davies bloodied clothes were found dumped in a Cronulla bin and a pool of blood was found at Mr Baird's Paddington home.
Detective Superintendent Doherty confirmed a projectile located at the Paddington premises which had been discharged has been matched to a NSW Police firearm.
"The actual police firearm has also been seized and there's further ballistic examinations to be made on that in relation to this brief of evidence," he said.
On February 22, police confirmed they were looking into "all past relationships and associations" of the missing pair. Constable Beau Lamarre was an ex-partner of Mr Baird.
Madeline Link
Madeline Link is a journalist at the Newcastle Herald, with a focus on Lake Macquarie City Council. To keep up with my stories, follow my Twitter @madeline_link, for tips email madeline.link@newcastleherald.com.au.
Madeline Link is a journalist at the Newcastle Herald, with a focus on Lake Macquarie City Council. To keep up with my stories, follow my Twitter @madeline_link, for tips email madeline.link@newcastleherald.com.au.
