A laboratory assistant at the UK facility where male DNA was found on Ciara Glennon’s fingernails has testified at the Claremont serial killings trial.
Camera IconA laboratory assistant at the UK facility where male DNA was found on Ciara Glennon’s fingernails has testified at the Claremont serial killings trial. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

More mortuary evidence at Claremont trial

AAPWestern Suburbs Weekly

THE epic Claremont serial killings trial will this week hear more evidence about Ciara Glennon and Jane Rimmer’s crime scenes and post mortems.

Former Telstra technician Bradley Robert Edwards is fighting accusations he murdered Ms Glennon, Ms Rimmer and Sarah Spiers in 1996 and 1997, with the handling of exhibits scrutinised as his lawyers argue they could have been contaminated.

Current and former police who attended the bushland sites where Ms Glennon and Ms Rimmer were dumped, and their post mortems, were grilled in detail last week.

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They were asked if they touched the bodies and former sergeant Barry Mott admitted he may have inadvertently brushed against Ms Rimmer while taking photographs.

DNA science was “very much in its infancy” at the time, Mr Mott said, and replied “definitely not” when asked if he was thinking it was possible to contaminate something without even touching it.

Retired mortuary manager Robert Macdermid, who was present at both post mortems, testified trace evidence “was a police job” back then and mortuary procedures changed as DNA detection became more sensitive.

Mr Macdermid confirmed Laurance Webb, a former senior forensic biologist who was sacked from PathWest in 2016 for breaching testing protocols, was present at Ms Glennon’s examination.

It also emerged Mr Macdermid had difficulty removing clippings from her left thumb – which prosecutors say had Edwards’ DNA on it – because the scissors he used at first were too large.

Prosecutors say the 51-year-old confessed rapist’s DNA was also found under her middle left fingernail.

PathWest is expected to be the focus of next week’s evidence.