‘Our hearts are shattered’: Luke Davies farewelled in Brisbane

1 week ago 11

As the oldest of 3 boys increasing up successful the outer suburbs of Brisbane, wherever they rode bikes, created daredevil jumps and disquieted their mother, John Davies ever felt it was his occupation to look retired for his small brothers.

He was determination the time the youngest, Luke – known to household and friends arsenic “Lukie boy” – pushed excessively accelerated and excessively precocious to outdo his elder brothers implicit a jump, and carried the bruised small lad location to safety.

Luke Davies’ parent Sandra is hugged by a mourner aft a memorial service.

But helium wasn’t determination the time Luke died. He could not person known what would hap that February morning, erstwhile a NSW Police serviceman allegedly changeable Luke and his caller fellow Jesse Baird astatine a Paddington terrace.

Amid the anger, daze and disorder since the alleged murder, John said helium wasn’t determination to beryllium his brother’s protector. “I’m atrocious connected this uncontrollable juncture I wasn’t determination for you,” helium wrote to his small brother.

Two months aft his death, Luke Davies, 29, was farewelled connected Saturday by his household and friends astatine an open-air memorial work successful New Farm an interior suburb of Brisbane, wherever Davies lived earlier helium moved to Sydney.

Mourners wearing achromatic gathered successful beforehand of the park’s historical rotunda, beneath sprawling poinciana trees. Bunches of sunflowers were arranged astir Davies’ photograph.

Luke Davies and his spouse Jesse Baird were allegedly murdered by an off-duty constabulary serviceman successful their Paddington location connected February 19.

His parent Sandra wore sunflower earrings, and his sister-in-law Krysten wore 1 successful her hair.

Before and during the service, photographs of Davies’ beingness flashed crossed screens. As a baby, his parent cradling him successful her arms. As a boy, playing with his brothers. As a man, cuddling his niece.

Mourners watched videos of a pint-sized Davies dancing to Aqua’s Barbie Girl, fending disconnected his brothers arsenic helium blew retired the candle connected his 5th day cake, and dancing to Rock-a-Bye Your Bear by The Wiggles.

They watched montages of Davies travels arsenic a formation attendant, the occupation that allowed him to fulfil his imagination of adventure; they saw him successful beforehand of the Eiffel Tower, connected the slopes of Whistler, dancing on a cobblestone thoroughfare successful Europe.

Davies mother, Sandra, did not speak. His eldest brother, John Davies, who was incapable to be astatine the past minute, wrote a tribute, work by his uncle connected his behalf. He told of his anger, sadness and disorder astatine his brother’s death.

Luke Davies’ member Brock and parent Sandra among the mourners.

“If determination is ever a clip successful my beingness that I needed my small member for his spot it would beryllium now,” helium said.

“He ever shone with the brightest airy and wore the biggest grin successful immoderate country helium was in. Words volition ne'er beryllium capable to explicit however overmuch I emotion you, and however arrogant I americium to beryllium your large brother.

“Those tender years of america increasing up arsenic a family, taking attraction of each other, and the bonds we shared arsenic the closest of brothers, volition beryllium my astir precious memories.”

Davies’ sister-in-law, Krysten Davies, work a tribute from her husband, Davies’ brother, Brock, who remembered however his children adored their uncle “Nuke”, and however helium was everlastingly grateful his girls spent that clip with him.

“The emotion you showed my girls, the enslaved you shared … volition clasp a peculiar spot successful my heart,” helium wrote. “Fly precocious my small brother, alert high. I emotion you always.”

Davies’ erstwhile boyfriend, Nino Lalic, remembered his drive, his joie de vivre, and his kindness. He spoke astir however Davies worked astatine Woolworths erstwhile COVID-19 unopen down the hose industry, and kept getting promoted; however helium had worked hard for everything helium had.

The memorial was expected to beryllium a solemnisation of Davies’ life, but Lalic acknowledged the grief, too. “I americium truthful sad,” Lalic said. “I miss him truthful much. The thought of not seeing you again is unimaginable. I emotion you Luke.”

Davies died connected February 19. Police volition allege helium and Baird were killed by serving NSW Police officer, Beau Lamarre-Condon, who was romantically funny successful Baird and had been showing him unwanted attention.

Davies and Baird had met astatine a New Year’s Eve enactment astatine the precise extremity of 2023. Police judge Baird was Lamarre-Condon’s intended target, and Davies was killed due to the fact that helium happened to beryllium with him.

Their bodies were recovered adjacent Goulburn a week later.

Lamarre-Condon is connected remand astatine Silverwater Prison. He volition look successful tribunal connected Tuesday.