CLAREMONT: The Trial

Latest Episodes:

S2E86: "When the Normal Meets the Abnormal”: The Closings Begin Jun 09, 2020

Show notes

The lead prosecutor - looking under the weather soldiered on during the beginning of her closing statements on day 86 of the Claremont Serial Killings trial, but it didn’t last long - just an hour, in fact.

As Tim Clarke said, the only thing in worse health than Carmel Barbagallo was the video link.

As it cut out an hour into her closings, the screen went black, and the court was delayed again.

But in the hour the lead prosecutor was delivering her statement, she outlined the 25 reasons why she says she can prove Bradley Robert Edwards is the Claremont Serial Killer.

They came in four key areas - DNA, clothing fibres, car fibres and propensity - The similar crimes of the Karrakatta rape in 1995 and Huntingdale attack in 1998, which Bradley Edwards has pleaded guilty too.

In front of a packed court room, which included all of the three victims’ families and well as the Karrakatta rape victim and the Huntingdale attack victim, as well as Mr Edwards’ parents, prosecutor Tara Payne asked for the trial to be adjourned again until Monday - to allow for Ms Barbagallo to get better.

Join Natalie Bonjolo, Tim Clarke and Alison Fan as they discuss day 86 of the Claremont Serial killings trial.

If you have any questions for the Claremont in Conversation podcast team, send them in to claremontpodcast@wanews.com.au

The West Australian has also released a two-part video series, as Tim Clarke takes you through the areas which are key to the trial, from Claremont, where the women went missing, to Hollywood hospital and to the sites were Jane Rimmer and Ciara Glennon’s bodies were found.

To watch those videos, head to:

Part 1:

https://thewest.com.au/news/claremont-serial-killings/claremont-serial-killings-trial-tim-clarke-takes-you-on-a-visual-tour-of-claremont-ng-b881516606z

Part 2:

https://thewest.com.au/news/claremont-serial-killings/claremont-serial-killings-trial-tim-clarke-takes-you-to-wellard-and-eglington-ng-b881517153z

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

S2“Public Health Concern” Delays Trial Resumption Jun 08, 2020

Show notes

On the day that was supposed to see the closing statements of WA’s trial of the century to begin, an 11th-hour decision was made to delay proceedings for 24-hours, due to sickness.

As Tim Clarke explains in this episode, the WA Courts said a “public health concern” was the reason for the delay.

It’s believed it was the lead prosecutor Carmel Barbagallo who was unwell, however, that hasn’t been confirmed.

If that is the case, Claremont in Conversation resident defence lawyer Damien Cripps said any lawyer needs to be in the best condition possible to be able to deliver their case to its full potential.

And after all, we’re no longer being told to ‘soldier on’ through sickness in any workplace. The message now - if you’re sick, stay home.

As the accused parents waited inside court and around 30 members of the public were queuing outside this morning, they were told court wouldn’t be happening.

The decision so last-minute, even the accused Bradley Edwards had been transported from Casuarina prison to attend his trial.

So far, court is due to resume on Tuesday for day 86, where the closing statements of the prosecution are expected to begin.

Join Natalie Bonjolo, Tim Clarke and Damien Cripps as they discuss today’s events, and answer some of your listener questions.

If you have any questions for the Claremont in Conversation podcast team, send them in to claremontpodcast@wanews.com.au

To watch those videos, head to:

Part 1:

https://thewest.com.au/news/claremont-serial-killings/claremont-serial-killings-trial-tim-clarke-takes-you-on-a-visual-tour-of-claremont-ng-b881516606z

Part 2:

https://thewest.com.au/news/claremont-serial-killings/claremont-serial-killings-trial-tim-clarke-takes-you-to-wellard-and-eglington-ng-b881517153z

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

S2Bonus Episode: Remembering Jane Jun 05, 2020

Show notes

Jane Rimmer was a happy, vibrant 23-year-old childcare worker, just starting out in life.

She loved her family, her friends, and she liked to have a good time with them.

And it was on June 8, 1996 that she decided to go out to have a few drinks with her friends in Claremont. That was the last night she was seen alive.

Claremont was the safe, opulent, go-to place for young people in Perth in the 90s. 18-year-old Sarah Spiers had disappeared from the streets of Claremont just five months previously, but that didn't stop hundreds of people flocking to the nightspot that June night.

We saw Jane's last known movements through CCTV vision. As Tim Clarke explains in this bonus episode, the haunting image of Jane's now elderly mother watching her daughter, forever 23 through grainy CCTV vision in court stuck with him.

Sarah Spiers' disappearance was a tragic time for Perth and her family, but it wasn't until Jane Rimmer disappeared that the words serial killer started to echo throughout the city.

Then, when her body was discovered 55 days later in bushland more than 40 kilometres from Claremont, that the police, and Perth's worst fears were realised.

The missing persons case became a murder.

Join Natalie Bonjolo, Tim Clarke and Alison Fan in this bonus episode as they remember Jane Rimmer.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

S2E85: The Case End May 06, 2020

Show notes

“Brace yourself, Bradley,” is what Detective Senior Sergeant Joe Marrapodi said to Bradley Edwards during the final part of his police interview.

He was telling Mr Edwards to brace himself, because they had the DNA results back - from a swab he gave to detectives around 12 hours earlier.

“The expert scientists have now come back to us to confirm your DNA is a positive match,” Set Snr Sgt Marrapodi said.

It was also the first time we’ve see any emotion from Bradley Edwards, when he was told his DNA matched that found on Ciara Glennon, the Karrakatta rape victim, and the kimono found from the Huntingdale attack.

Following that, he was shown photos from the room in which the Huntingdale attack happened, the Karrakatta rape victim, and most poignantly - a photo of Ciara Glennon.

He was then he appeared to be starkly aware of what he was accused of - rape and murder.

These were some of the final pieces of evidence the court heard before it seemed to end, to the surprise of the public, and the podcast team.

It took 85 days for the prosecution to lay out its case against Bradley Edwards, the man they say is the Claremont Serial Killer.

The defence’s case took mere minutes.

Their only exhibit tendered into evidence, A city of Gosnells maximum temperatures list for 1996.

And that was the end of their case.

As expected by the podcast team throughout the course of the trial, Bradley Edwards will not take the stand in his own defence.

In another shock, for the last 5 months, the prosecution has argued that particular, emotionally upsetting events in Bradley Edwards life corresponded with the disappearances of Sarah Spiers, Jane Rimmer and Ciara Glennon.

Today, the prosecution abandoned that theory.

The emotional upset case will no longer be taken into account.

With Bradley Edwards confirming he will not take the stand, the court will now adjourn for more than 4 weeks, returning on June 8, coincidentally, a day etched into the minds of those following the case, the day Jane Rimmer disappeared.

To watch those videos, head to:

Part 1:

https://thewest.com.au/news/claremont-serial-killings/claremont-serial-killings-trial-tim-clarke-takes-you-on-a-visual-tour-of-claremont-ng-b881516606z

Part 2:

https://thewest.com.au/news/claremont-serial-killings/claremont-serial-killings-trial-tim-clarke-takes-you-to-wellard-and-eglington-ng-b881517153z

If you have any questions for the Claremont in Conversation podcast team, send them in to claremontpodcast@wanews.com.au

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

S2E84: The Police Interview May 05, 2020

Show notes

Day 84 was the day the court heard directly from Bradley Edwards, through his police interview, recorded after his arrest in 2016.

Today, we heard his response, as he was told he was accused as being the Claremont Serial Killer.

“I just want to go to sleep and to wake up and for this to all be a bad dream.”

Those were the words spoken by Bradley Edwards, his head in his hands as he as being questioned by police following his arrest in 2016.

It was the first time anyone has heard from the accused man during this trial, and the public, despite coronavirus restrictions, seemed to want to see the interview for themselves - the court packed, in scenes not seen since the first few days of this mammoth trial more than 5 months ago.

Detective senior sergeant Joe Marrapodi took the stand, he was one of two detectives who interviewed Bradley Edwards on the day of his arrest.

In handcuffs, sitting on the floor of his house, Joe Marrapodi told how he approached Mr Edwards, then police began recording video, and that was the start of a six and a half hour interview with the man they believe is the Claremont Serial Killer.

Join Natalie Bonjolo, Tim Clarke and Alison Fan, with the help of reporter Josh Garlepp as they take you through the police interview WA has waited more than five months for.

Hear what Bradley Edwards had to say in this episode of Claremont in Conversation.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

S2E83: “The Most Significant Piece of Evidence the Prosecution is Going to Bring” May 04, 2020

Show notes

In this episode, the podcast team look ahead into the evidence which has been anticipated for weeks - Bradley Edwards police interview - which Damien Cripps said gives ‘shivers down his spine’ in anticipation of the video to be played to the court, and is expected to be “the most significant piece of evidence the prosecution is going to bring”.

That video is expected to be played tomorrow.

While we’re still waiting for the police interview to be played, Day 83 saw a piece of evidence that was hotly objected by defence lawyer Paul Yovich - before the evidence was even heard.

The statistics on unsolved murders and missing persons in WA was deemed ‘irrelevant’ by the defence, but despite that, the prosecution was allowed to proceed by Justice Hall.

The court was told that police found more than 1500 unsolved cases including murders, attempted murders, dangerous driving causing deaths between 1994 and 1997.

When they filtered those down by suburb, six unsolved murders were in the Western Suburbs, which includes Claremont. Three of those have had suspects who have been charged, convicted and acquitted.

The only three left over were Sarah Spiers, Jane Rimmer and Ciara Glennon.

The court also heard a similar process was performed on long-term missing persons cases in WA.

Now the fibre evidence has finished, the prosecution read in several witness statements.

One of those was yet another woman has recounted a disturbing and frightening encounter with a white car around the Claremont area in the mid-90s.

She had been walking home alone after walking from Claremont to Cottesloe - around a 20-minute walk - when she said a white car stalked her, including following her on the footpath at one point.

She said shows very frightened, and ran across the road to the medium strip, where she

As discussed in this episode, it’s not to say that these events are directly related to Bradley Edwards, but as Tim Clarke discusses, the prosecution has been allowed to tell these witness’ stories to ‘paint a picture’ of what was happening, and the feeling around the area in the 90s.

Other witness statements included former FBI agents, scientists and police officers.

To watch those videos, head to:

Part 1:

https://thewest.com.au/news/claremont-serial-killings/claremont-serial-killings-trial-tim-clarke-takes-you-on-a-visual-tour-of-claremont-ng-b881516606z

Part 2:

https://thewest.com.au/news/claremont-serial-killings/claremont-serial-killings-trial-tim-clarke-takes-you-to-wellard-and-eglington-ng-b881517153z

If you have any questions for the Claremont in Conversation podcast team, send them in to claremontpodcast@wanews.com.au

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

S2E82: Claremont "Too Much Trouble" For Cab Drivers May 02, 2020

Show notes

As the court waited for a reasonable time in the UK to video call Dr Ray Palmer for his final day giving evidence, two witness statements were read into the court.

One of them was from a former Perth taxi driver, who said he avoided Claremont, and preferred to drive in Northbridge because Claremont was 'too much trouble', that people were often very drunk and disorderly.

He was one of the cab drivers who drove a cab number that WA Police specifically looked into. In this Podcast, The West's Emily Moulton explains why his specific cab number was looked into.

In another witness, a cold case detective revealed he was tasked with searching through old TV guides to find episodes of the X-Files.

Earlier in the trial, Edwards' first wife and the man who went on to become her lover, bonded over watching the x-files together, and to corroborate those claims, detectives had to see if the x-files was actually shown on the TV in the 90s - which he found they were.

When Dr Ray Palmer was called later in the evening, defence Lawyer Paul Yovich finished his cross examination with the fibre expert, where he grilled him on his findings of when he thought fibres may have got onto the victims.

Dr palmer has now finished his evidence, next week, the much-anticipated 6-hour police interview with Bradley Edwards will be shown to the court.

Court will be back to normal hours.

To watch those videos, head to:

Part 1:

https://thewest.com.au/news/claremont-serial-killings/claremont-serial-killings-trial-tim-clarke-takes-you-on-a-visual-tour-of-claremont-ng-b881516606z

Part 2:

https://thewest.com.au/news/claremont-serial-killings/claremont-serial-killings-trial-tim-clarke-takes-you-to-wellard-and-eglington-ng-b881517153z

If you have any questions for the Claremont in Conversation podcast team, send them in to claremontpodcast@wanews.com.au

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

S2E81: “Very Strong” Chance Ciara Glennon was in Bradley Edwards’ Car Apr 30, 2020

Show notes

The state’s key fibre expert has detailed how the combination of fibres and the types of fibres found in Jane Rimmer and Ciara Glennon’s hair, as well as critical fibres no matched for their personal items, led him to believe it was more likely the two murdered women were in the Car Bradley Edwards drove, than not.

In Ciara Glennon’s case, Dr Ray Palmer said he thought there was ‘very strong’ support to indicate Ciara was in that Holden VS Commodore, owned by Bradley Edwards in the mid-late 90s.

He also told the court, generally blue polyester fibres - like the ones from the Telstra pants - accounted for 5% of the fibres found in people’s hair, while polypropylene fibres - like the fibres found in the carpet of the car - are not commonly found in people’s hair.

Day 81 of the Claremont Serial Killings trial saw Paul Yovich begin his cross examination of Dr Ray Palmer, in which the beginnings of a contamination theory seemed to be put forward by the defence.

Before the key fibre witness took the stand, earlier in the day, two former taxi company workers told how they were asked by WA police to search their archives for all of their jobs the nights Sarah, Jane and Ciara disappeared.

Amazingly, they managed to find old floppy disks containing that data, which didn’t reveal a lot, except that a job from Sarah Spiers was found. The court had previously heard tat she phoned for a taxi at 2.06am on January 27, 1996. When the taxi arrived less than 3 minutes later, she was gone.

They also found two jobs for “Janes” that night, but none seemed to be leaving from Claremont, and no jobs from a Ciara - or any variations of that name.

But during cross examination, it was revealed, the jobs from hailed taxis were never logged.

Join Natalie Bonjolo, Tim Clarke and Forensic expert Brendan Chapman as they discuss day 81.

Court will be sitting late for the rest of the week as Dr Ray Palmer continues to be cross examined.

To watch those videos, head to:

Part 1:

https://thewest.com.au/news/claremont-serial-killings/claremont-serial-killings-trial-tim-clarke-takes-you-on-a-visual-tour-of-claremont-ng-b881516606z

Part 2:

https://thewest.com.au/news/claremont-serial-killings/claremont-serial-killings-trial-tim-clarke-takes-you-to-wellard-and-eglington-ng-b881517153z

If you have any questions for the Claremont in Conversation podcast team, send them in to claremontpodcast@wanews.com.au

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

S2E80: Another Woman’s Terrifying Encounter Apr 29, 2020

Show notes

Day 80 of the Claremont Serial Killings trial sat late to accomodate an expert witness from overseas. But before Dr Ray Palmer gave evidence, the defence asked the prosecution to call up a witness.

This witness gave a terrifying account of her encounter with a man in a white van who she accepted a ride from while she was walking on Stirling Highway in the mid 90s.

A man who tried to grab her leg while he was driving her before she yelled to stop, ran as fast as she could from the car and hid behind a letterbox until he was gone.

This encounter is eerily similar to the Telstra Living Witnesses, except, her description of the man was very different to their descriptions, and the description of Bradley Edwards at that time.

A tactic in reasonable doubt? Criminal Defence Lawyer Damien Cripps joins the podcast team to discuss that question, and the evidence from the prosecution’s ket fibre witness - Dr Ray Palmer, who literally wrote the book on fibres.

During Dr Palmer’s evidence, he told the court he thought the forensic practices were very sloppy, and probably resulted in the loss of fibres.

It’s not the first time we’ve heard about forensic practices being sloppy - DNA experts have also previously told the court they thought the same.

But Dr Palmer qualified his remarks by saying the practices were sloppy all-round in the 90s - even in the UK.

He also told the court that fibres in general can fall off people very easily, and the chances of finding a target fibre that matches one of the fibres found on a body - which is the case in the fibres found on Jane, Ciara and the Karrakatta rape victim - is usually very rare.

Join Natalie Bonjolo, Tim Clarke as they bring you a wrap up of the night’s evidence.

Court will be sitting late for the rest of the week as Dr Ray Palmer continues his evidence.

To watch those videos, head to:

Part 1:

https://thewest.com.au/news/claremont-serial-killings/claremont-serial-killings-trial-tim-clarke-takes-you-on-a-visual-tour-of-claremont-ng-b881516606z

Part 2:

https://thewest.com.au/news/claremont-serial-killings/claremont-serial-killings-trial-tim-clarke-takes-you-to-wellard-and-eglington-ng-b881517153z

If you have any questions for the Claremont in Conversation podcast team, send them in to claremontpodcast@wanews.com.au

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

S2E79: The Mammoth Evidence Apr 28, 2020

Show notes

After spending nine days on the stand, Chem Centre scientist Rees Powell finally wrapped up his evidence on day 79 of the Claremont Serial Killings trial.

It was during the end of his evidence-in-chief that it was revealed not only were fibres from the bodies of Ciara Glennon and Jane Rimmer analysed, the fibres from another WA cold case - which we have spoken about before on the podcast - the murder of Gerard Ross, was analysed along side the MACRO exhibits.

The fibres were also compared to see if there were any matches.

It was revealed there were matches, — but only from so-called “adventitious” sources, possibly from overshoes worn by police and sheets used in the state mortuary.

During his mammoth time on the stand, Mr Powell detailed the huge amount of fibres that had been collected during the investigation, and the number of fibres Chem Centre tested, dating back to 2009, numbered in the thousands.

On the final day of his evidence, a report put together by Mr Powell said the MACRO investigation is likely to be one of the largest textile fibre investigations ever conducted worldwide.

The defence had their chance to question Mr Powell during his cross examination, where he was

The state’s case - like the DNA portion of the trial, seemed to looking to find chances for contamination.

Mr Yovich asked Mr Powell about the possibility of a crowded hotel, packed with people, being a good environment for the transfer of fibres.

Such as the Continental Hotel, where Jane and Ciara spent parts of their last nights alive. Mr Powell agreed fibres could and would be transferred from people throughout the nights.

Now that Mr Powell has finished his evidence, the trial will move to the UK, where the state’s key fibre witness, Dr Ray Palmer, who will be giving evidence via video link.

The trial will sit later for the rest of the week.

Join Natalie Bonjolo, Tim Clarke and Alison Fan as they discuss day 79.

To watch those videos, head to:

Part 1:

https://thewest.com.au/news/claremont-serial-killings/claremont-serial-killings-trial-tim-clarke-takes-you-on-a-visual-tour-of-claremont-ng-b881516606z

Part 2:

https://thewest.com.au/news/claremont-serial-killings/claremont-serial-killings-trial-tim-clarke-takes-you-to-wellard-and-eglington-ng-b881517153z

If you have any questions for the Claremont in Conversation podcast team, send them in to claremontpodcast@wanews.com.au

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.