Corey-Dean Thorpe gave evidence on Wednesday about the state of mind of his former long-term partner, Jesse Baird, in the trial of 31-year-old Beau Lamarre-Condon.
Lamarre-Condon has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr Baird, 26, and new partner Luke Davies, 29, claiming he acted in self-defence during separate struggles with the men.
Mr Thorpe told the jury he remained close friends with Mr Baird after their separation.
Mr Baird later confided he was scared of reporting Lamarre-Condon's controlling behaviour to authorities because of the senior constable's position with police.
In November 2023, three months before Mr Baird's death, Lamarre-Condon allegedly posted an Instagram story with an internet picture of a bunch of flowers and a message, implying Mr Baird had sent them, the Crown alleges.
However, the implication was allegedly false and Mr Baird could not see the post - only those Lamarre-Condon allegedly believed to be romantic rivals could.
After Mr Baird allegedly found out he had been duped, he told Mr Thorpe on the phone he was fearful of Lamarre-Condon's escalating behaviour.
"I never heard him so scared," said Mr Thorpe, who was deeply emotional throughout his evidence.
"He just kept repeating: 'He's got a gun'."
Fears for Mr Baird's career in television were also at the front of his mind, Mr Thorpe said.
"He was worried Beau might make a false allegation against him and that could ruin his career," Mr Thorpe said.
Three months after he raised his concerns with Mr Thorpe, the TV presenter and new partner Mr Davies were killed when Lamarre-Condon entered his house disguised with a motorcycle helmet and armed with his police pistol.
Another close friend of Mr Baird tearfully recounted how close his mate and Mr Davies became before the fatal incident in February 2024.
"He was almost falling in love with him," friend Matthew Edwards said in court on Wednesday.
"There was something about Luke that just lit Jesse up - they were the real deal."
Members of Mr Baird's family became visibly emotional in the public gallery of the NSW Supreme Court during Wednesday's testimony.
Under cross-examination from Lamarre-Condon's barrister, Mr Edwards said posts the police officer made on Instagram lying about his relationship with Mr Baird did not rise to his friend being worried about his safety.
"Words 'unsafe' coming from Jesse, no," Mr Edwards said.
"Uncomfortable, yes."
Defence barrister John Stratton SC has told jurors that Lamarre-Condon did some "stupid things" to Mr Baird but his behaviour was never threatening.
Lamarre-Condon has suggested his gun went off twice while struggling with Mr Baird, killing the 26-year-old, while Mr Davies shot himself while later wrestling the police officer.Â
Later in the trial, the jury of 15 men and women is expected to hear from the officer's close friend about a conversation the pair had straight after Lamarre-Condon left Mr Baird's house on February 19, 2024, prosecutor Brett Hatfield SC said.
After arriving in a car he hired in his mother's name the day before, Lamarre-Condon asked Ethan Lynch to not judge him for killing the two men.
When his friend asked if he was joking, Lamarre-Condon allegedly responded: "I wish I was."
Mr Lynch asked how he did it and his friend answered, "with a gun, pew pew," while making a hand gesture of firing a gun, Mr Hatfield told the jury during his opening address.
Mr Lynch later gave statements to police about what Lamarre-Condon told him but continued to visit the officer in custody for months after the killings.
The trial continues.
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