An Australian TV host has broken down in tears when paying tribute to her friend and colleague after he was allegedly murdered.
Last week TV presenter Jesse Baird, 26, and his boyfriend Luke Davies, 29, went missing.
The couple had been missing for several days and police said they were gravely concerned after finding some of their possessions covered in blood in a skip.
Their bodies have yet to be located, and police have not confirmed a cause of death.
Beau Lamarre- Condon has been charged with their murder.
Over the past few days, family, friends and colleagues of the pair have been paying tribute to the couple, including on various programmes on Channel 10, where Baird had worked for the past seven years.
On Sunday night, Sarah Harris, who worked with Baird on the show Studio 10 was left in tears when speaking about him on air.
‘It’s been a really hard week for a lot of us here at Ten across at the network,’ she said while speaking on The Project.
Starting to cry, she continued.
‘It’s hard to even talk about Jesse in the past tense because he was more than just a colleague, he was our friend … a little brother,’ she told viewers through tears.
She explained how Baird ‘lit up not only the screen but a room’ and had a ‘big beautiful smile’.
‘He was an absolute star and was quick on his feet whether it be feeding crocs or water skiing, he did it all.
‘He was just one of those kid’s who had a big smile, big talent, and an even bigger heart.’
Sarah went on to describe how 2024 was meant to be Baird’s year, and he was looking forward to starting a new job soon.
She then recalled how Baird had described Davies as ‘the one’.
‘He was in love and my heart just aches, not only for Luke’s family but also Jesse’s family. His mum, sister, brother and grandmother, who he was very close with.’
Then addressing his family directly, Sarah looked down the camera and said: ‘To Jesse’s family. You need to know he spoke about you often and with so much love and we are just all so so sorry.’
Jumping in, her co-host Hamish MacDonald said there was ‘so much love, thoughts and respect’ to both families.
‘There is a very deep sense of loss in the newsroom, and we would like to send and share to you our love at this most difficult time.
‘There is so much to say, but words are so difficult to find.’
On the weekend, the network also issued a statement on behalf of those who worked with Baird at Studio 10, which wrapped up last year.
‘Jesse was so much more than a colleague,’ it read.’
‘He was a cherished friend who brightened every day with his positivity, cheeky winks and brilliant smile.’
The statement said colleagues were ‘completely shattered’.
‘Nothing was ever too much trouble. He worked so hard to make his dreams come true. He was up for anything and the life of the party always. It is quite simply impossible to overstate how much we adored him.’
In the wake of the couple’s alleged murders, two separate GoFundMe pages have been set up to raise funds for funeral costs and charities in their honour.
The page set up in Baird’s honour by Network 10 producer Tamara Simoneau has raised more than $21,000 (£10,000) in less than 24 hours, with Network 10 presenter Narelda Jacobs also donating $1000 (£500).