Organisers of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade have revealed how they will pay tribute to alleged murder victims Jesse Baird and Luke Davies amid sombre reflections on the couple’s lives days ahead of the event.
Mr Baird, 26 and his boyfriend Mr Davies, 29, were allegedly murdered at Baird’s sharehouse in Paddington at about 9.30am in February 19.
Senior constable Beau Lamarre-Condon is accused of using his police-issued pistol to shoot them, before dumping the bodies at a rural property.
A moment of silence will be observed for the young couple during this evening’s parade, which is due to start at 6pm.
Luke Davies (left) and Jesse Baird (right) were allegedly murdered at home. Picture: Instagram
A moment of silence will be observed for the young couple during this evening’s parade, which is due to start at 6pm
‘We will take a moment to honour and remember Jesse Baird and Luke Davies, whose lives were tragically taken from us,’ Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras said in a statement on Saturday.
‘This moment of commemoration serves as a powerful reminder of the bonds that unite us and the memories of those we hold dear.
‘As the Dykes on Bikes approach Taylor Square for their second pass – the heart of our Parade – they will come to a pause.
‘This serves as a signal for all attendees to join in a moment of silence.’
Hundreds of people gathered in Green Park in Darlinghurst on Friday night, an evening that would usually signal the start of a weekend of celebration and partying
Friends, family and members of the LGBTQIA+ community gathered at dusk to pay tribute to the lives of the young couple whose live were cut so tragically short.
Hundreds of people gathered in Green Park in Darlinghurst on Friday night, an evening that would usually signal the start of a weekend of celebration and partying.
Instead, friends, family and members of the LGBTQIA+ community gathered at dusk to pay tribute to the lives of the young couple whose live were cut so tragically short.
‘Jesse would be so humbled that so many people showed up tonight, and I know that he’s up there and he’s looking down at us and he’s saying, ‘guys, stop being so dramatic, stand up and start dancing for me’ because he loved a good dance,’ a colleague of Mr Baird’s told Weekend Today on Saturday morning.
Luke Davies’ mother shared a tribute to him. Picture: Facebook
‘He was so bold and beautiful and bright.’
The families of both men have been mostly quiet since their deaths were confirmed last week, however Mr Davies’ mother Sandy broke her silence earlier this week.
She changed her Facebook profile picture on Wednesday to a photo of her with her arm around Luke, the pair both grinning from ear to ear, with no words accompanying the post.
Mr Davies will also be honoured by his former employer’s Qantas on their float during the parade.