NSW Police Commissioner Defends Response to Critics as ‘Haters’ after Alleged Murders

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb has brushed off critics of her handling of recent murders as simply “haters.” During an appearance on Channel Seven‘s Sunrise, Webb responded to questions about the timing of her public statements following the suspected murders of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies allegedly by police officer Beau Lamarre-Condon.

Webb dismissed the criticism, stating, “There will always be haters, haters like to hate isn’t that what Taylor Swift says. I’ve got the confidence of the minister and the premier, and I’ve got a job to do… this is really about these families, not just the families, but the friends, the gay community, who are all wondering what has happened here.”

Webb came under fire for not addressing the media regarding the alleged murders of Baird and Davies until Monday, with a press conference mainly led by another officer.

In a separate interview on Channel Nine‘s Today, Webb defended her leadership, calling questions about it “offensive.” She also discussed the ongoing frustration within the police force over the search for Baird and Davies’ bodies, which have yet to be located.

Regarding her use of the term “crime of passion” to describe the alleged murders, Webb explained, “It certainly wasn’t my intention to offend anyone… it was a crime not motivated by gay hate, but let’s be clear, it’s apparent, and we will allege it’s domestic violence, stalking and definitely murder.”

Despite days of searching a rural property near Goulburn where Lamarre-Condon and a female companion reportedly visited after the couple’s murder, police divers left without finding the bodies. The search efforts will continue, with line searches planned at the Bungonia farm where it is believed Lamarre-Condon may have left the bodies at some point, although they could have been moved again. The search operation remains ongoing.