Claremont serial killer case: Bradley Edwards fronts court after hospital visit

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Claremont serial killer case: Bradley Edwards fronts court after hospital visit

Today's pre-trial directions hearing will argue the admissibility of some of the state's proposed evidence against Mr Edwards and is expected to reveal key details about the case.

Mr Edwards has 'obsessive interest with abduction and rape pornography'

Following Mr Edwards' arrest in December 2016, detectives allegedly discovered 'extreme pornography materials' in his Kewdale home.

Ms Barbagallo said the material found goes towards their case that Mr Edwards had an obsessive sexual interest with abduction and rape for his own sexual gratification. 

 

Accused DNA allegedly found in Ciara Glennon's fingernails

The state alleges Mr Edwards DNA was found in the fingernails of Ciara Glennon, whose body was found in Eglinton shortly after her death in 1997. 

It also claims fibres found in Ms Glennon's hair match those of the material found in a 1996 Holden Commodore VS Series 1, the same Tesltra-issued car Mr Edwards was driving at the time of the death. 

The court is told Ciara's handbag, shoes and jacket have never been found.

The court is also told Mr Edwards was expected to be at a friends house in Dawseville on March 14, but did not arrive until mid morning of March 15.

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Telstra knife found near Jane Rimmer's body

Ms Barbagallo alleges a Telstra-allocated knife was found on the same street where Jane Rimmer's body was found in 1996, despite no works being carried out in the area at the time.

Two similar knives were found at Mr Edwards' home when police raided it in December 2016, the court was told.

The state also alleges fibres found in Ms Rimmer's hair match the fibres found in the car seats of a Holden VS Commodore 1996 model, the same model the accused was driving at the time of the murder. 

'Blood curdling screams' heard the night Sarah Spiers went missing

Ms Barbagallo alleges a witness heard 'blood curling screams' in Mosman Park the night Sarah Spiers, 18, went missing in January 1996. 

A car nearby, seen by a witness, allegedly matched the description of the car Mr Edwards was driving at the time of Sarah's disappearance. 

Her body has never been found.

 

Details of Karrakatta alleged rape revealed

The state alleges Mr Edwards abducted a 17-year-old girl as she was walking to a friend's house after a night out at Club Bay View in claremont in 1995. 

He allegedly grabbed her from behind, bound her hands together, gagged her and put a hood over her head. 

He is accused of carrying her into his car, taking her to an isolated area of Karrakatta Cemetery and raping her. 

He did not speak during the alleged assault and the woman was left half naked in bushland. 

A DNA examination of the woman was later allegedly found to  match the accused profile. 

Mr Edwards matches description of man giving lifts to women in mid-90s

The state alleges a man, broadly matching Mr Edwards' description and driving a Telstra vehicle, was seen driving around the western suburbs area, offering young women lifts, on numerous occasions in the mid 1990s.

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Mr Edwards confessed to attack at hospital in 1990

In 1990 Mr Edwards pleaded guilty to the assault of a woman at Hollywood Hospital.

Ms Barbagallo claimed Mr Edwards, while working at the hospital, attempted to drag the woman into a toilet block. 

He attacked her from behind and covered her mouth with a material, preventing her from being able to scream.

She struggled and broke free. 

He was later charged and pleaded guilty. 

State begins outlining alleged Huntingdale prowling offences

State prosecutor Carmel Barbagallo is outlining the state's case against Mr Edwards. 

She alleges in February 1988 he entered a Huntingdale home in the middle of the night and assaulted an 18-year-old woman. 

Ms Barbagallo claimed Mr Edwards unplugged the family's home phone and entered the teenager's room.

He allegedly sat on her back and straddled her while trying to force fabric into her mouth. 

The woman struggled and Mr Edwards allegedly ran from the scene, leaving behind a silk kimono.

The kimono was later tested in December 2016, and Mr Edwards DNA profile was allegedly detected. 

The state said a number of 'prowling' incidents occurred in Huntingdale, within a one kilometre radius from Mr Edwards family home. 

The state alleges he had an obession at this time for women's underwear ad night gowns. 

He was aged 19 at the time. 

Mr Edwards has previously pleaded not guilty to all charges

Bradley Robert Edwards has pleaded not guilty to the murders of Sarah Spiers, 18, Jane Rimmer, 23, and Ciara Glennon, 27, in Claremont in 1996 and 1997.

The 50-year-old has also denied raping a 17-year-old girl in Karrakatta Cemetery in 1995 and attacking an 18-year-old woman in her Huntingdale home in 1988.

Accused expected to appear in court this morning following hospital visit

Good morning readers,

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This is Heather McNeill and Phil Hickey reporting from the Supreme Court of Western Australia.

Accused Claremont serial killer Bradley Robert Edwards is due in court at 10am this morning to face a three day pre-trial directions hearing.

The hearing was meant to start on Monday, but was post-poned after Mr Edwards suffered an ear injury in prison and was taken to hospital.

He has since been discharged and returned to custody.

The directions hearing will argue the admissibility of some of the state's proposed evidence against Mr Edwards and is expected to reveal key details about the case.

To get you started, the related article in this post provides a break-down of the key people involved in this mammoth trial.

We will bring you more once the hearing gets underway this morning.

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