Claremont killer trial LIVE: Disgraced Pathwest scientist may not be called as a state witness

4.28pm

Disgraced Pathwest scientist still yet to be called as witness

Court has wrapped up for the day.

Ms Barbagallo has outlined the witnesses expected to be heard from in the coming weeks.

She said after Mr Bagdonavicius has completed his evidence, another Pathwest employee, Denise Galvin will take the stand, followed by detectives involved in the transport of the DNA samples to New Zealand in 2004 and the UK in 2008.

Ms Barbagallo has not mentioned whether forensic scientist Laurie Webb, who was sacked in 2017, will be called as a state witness.

Mr Webb was involved in the collection, examination and transport of Ciara's fingernail samples.

The state's DNA evidence is expected to take to the end of February, and then the state's fibre evidence will begin.

Senior Sergeant Marrapodi will be the last witness called for the state - as he will talk the court through the six hour police interview with Mr Edwards after his 2016 arrest, in which the state says Mr Edwards lied repeatedly and "feigned disbelief" at his DNA being found at the 1988 Huntingdale sex attack and 1995 Karrakatta cemetery rape crime scenes.

He confessed to the crimes three years later.

He maintains his not guilty plea in relation to his three murder charges.

4.07pm

Scientist going through how DNA samples were transported to NZ lab in 2004

Mr Bagdonavicius has now moved onto when he arranged for some of Ciara's fingernail clippings, and DNA extracts from the original clippings, to be sent to New Zealand for Y chromosome testing in March 2004.

Extracts from samples relating to Jane's case were also sent.

NZ DNA expert, SallyAnn Harbison gave evidence on what was sent and tested on Wednesday and Thursday.

The fingernail clippings sent to NZ (AJM41, AJM42, AJM46, AJM49) were taken out of their yellow top containers, and placed in sealed eppendorf tubes for transportation.

The fingernails were sent to the Institute of Environmental Science and Research along with 31 other vials that contained DNA extracts relating to Ciara and Jane's cases.

Three months later, the blanks and control samples that were on the "same runs" as the vials during testing in the Pathwest were also sent across.

Dr Harbison said 35 blanks were sent over, and of the 21 they tested, four were found to have been contaminated with DNA.

3.56pm

Scientist explains why Ciara's left thumbnail wasn't tested for 11 years

Mr Bagdonavicius has explained why during the August 2003 Qiagen (purification) DNA testing, he again made a decision, similar to in 1997, to not test Ciara's left thumbnail (AJM40).

The thumbnail, according to Pathwest's records, remained in its yellow top container, unopened, until 2008, when it was sent to the UK for low copy number testing and Mr Edwards' DNA profile was allegedly uncovered.

Upon viewing the records for AJM40, in 2003 Mr Bagdonavicius said he determined the sample was "debris only, not suitable for analysis".

"On previously viewing there was no actual nail in that container [just debris]," he said.

He said the container would not have been opened during the testing of other fingernails in 2003.

3.56pm

Pathwest results for its Qiagen and low copy number DNA testing in 2003

Mr Bagdonavicius is now going through the results from the August 2003 Qiagen testing, and low copy number testing also carried out around the same time on a number of fingernail sample sub-extracts.

AJM41 - partial profile for Ciara detected, no male DNA present.

AJM46 - partial profile for Ciara detected, trace of male DNA detected on low copy number testing.

AJM49 - partial profile for Ciara detected, male DNA detected on low copy number testing.

Pathwest was not accredited to conduct low copy number profiling at the time, and as such, the testing was done for investigative purposes only, to assist police.

"We were trying to see if we could get enhanced, better results, not for court purposes, for the investigators," Mr Bagdonavicius said.

Mr Bagdonavicius said no further testing was carried out on the two samples that returned readings for male DNA.

Ms Barbagallo: So as at November 2003, AJM40 and AJM48 had not been sampled or tested, or had any work done?

Mr Bagdonavicius: I believe so.

3.44pm

Scientist details 2003 DNA testing defence claims likely led to contamination

Since the morning tea break, Ms Barbagallo has now moved onto some DNA testing carried out on Ciara's fingernails in August, 2003.

This is the Qiagen testing that may have had a contaminated blank [control sample] within it, which was detected when the extracts and corresponding blanks were sent to a New Zealand lab for testing in 2004.

A blank is a negative control sample that has no DNA present which is included in a batch run when a number of other samples are being tested, to ensure the results are accurate.

The blank in the run with AJM41 and AJM46 contained a female's DNA that was not Ciara's.

Neither of these exhibits, which refer to Ciara's left and right index fingernails, are critical to the state's case.

The Qiagen testing on the exhibits was carried out by Denise Galvin.

Mr Bagdonavicius said female lab staff typically tested exhibits if the lab was looking for male DNA, as if an employee contaminated the sample, it would be easy to exclude it as being relevant.

The next day Mr Bagdonavicius reviewed Ms Galvin's work - which involved taking the fingernails out of their containers, swabbing them, and then placing them back in the container.

In reviewing the paperwork from the testing, he commented he was "not quite sure why" AJM41, AJM43 and AJM46 fingernail cuttings were taken out of their containers by Ms Galvin and their appearance documented and photographed, e.g. four pieces of nail in AJM41.

2.43pm

Detective who carried out act of compassion for Ciara's parents attends trial every day

The detective who collected Ciara's hair sample to give to her parents on her birthday is Senior Sergeant Joe Marrapodi who has been in the Claremont serial killer trial every day since it began, sitting at the back of the bar table behind the prosecutors with two other detectives.

He was one of the detectives who interviewed Mr Edwards after his arrest in 2016 and is among a handful of police officers who have permission to be in court for the trial before they give their evidence on the witness stand.

Detective Inspector Leo Ricciardi and Detective Senior Sergeant Joe Marrapodi (right) arriving at the Claremont serial killer trial. Credit:AAP

2.28pm

An excerpt: Ciara's mother speaks of the grief of losing a child

An excerpt from Una Glennon’s 2010 book, Ciara’s Gift, which speaks of her grief of losing a child:

“Days that are meant to be days of celebration are now days tinged with sadness. There is always someone
missing, a conspicuous absence, an empty chair, a silenced voice in the conversation. We do not speak out her
but our silence speaks louder than words. We miss her acutely. Nothing can fill the void of her absence. It is a
constant companion.”

2.18pm

Detective's act of compassion just days before what would have been Ciara's 28th birthday

Ciara Glennon

Ms Barbagallo has now moved onto a time in November 1997, nine months after Ciara was murdered, when her hair mass was taken from the state mortuary.

A sample of the hair was given to Purslowe Funerals to treat before it was handed to Ciara's parents.

The act of compassion was carried out just days before what would have been Ciara's 28th birthday, on November 20, 1997.

Mr Bagdonavicius said he collected a billy bucket with a hair mass inside, and handed it to a Macro taskforce detective, senior sergeant Joe Marrapodi, in the presence of forensic pathologist, Karin Margolius, on November 17, 1997. Records show it was returned to the mortuary on November 19, 1997.

"I handed over the whole item [to the detective] ... I didn't look inside the container," he said.

The hair sample, known as AJM54, and the billy bucket it was stored in, is a critical piece of evidence for the state as it alleges fibres found in both link Ciara's murder to Mr Edwards through his Telstra work trousers and vehicle.

The defence is seeking to uncover opportunities for the item to have been contaminated with micro-fibres from outside sources.

Ms Barbagallo has pointed out to Mr Bagdonavicius the paperwork he completed in relation to the transfer of the hair mass in and out of the mortuary was wrong, and that he was using the wrong batch number reference for the item.

The hair mass was stored in storage box 39 inside the mortuary freezer before and after it was taken by the detective.

By 2001, it was stored in the Pathwest freezer, location: A1, box 20.

1.52pm

Forensic scientist who recommended fingernails for DNA testing said he didn't open their containers

Mr Bagdonavicius is being asked about how he decided which of Ciara's fingernail cuttings, held in yellow top containers, he would recommend for DNA testing.

He handed the fingernail exhibits to the DNA lab on April 7, 1997.

He excluded the recommendation of testing AJM40, AJM41, AJM46 and AJM48 for DNA.

Ciara's left thumbnail, AJM40, is one of the most important pieces of evidence the state has in this trial, as it's alleged once combined with AJM42 and tested in 2008, it revealed a mixed DNA profile consistent with Ciara and Mr Edwards.

Mr Bagdonavicius said he would have "eye-balled" the fingernail clippings in the yellow top containers to determine which ones may be more suited for DNA testing, and that his recommendation might not have been followed by the scientists carrying out the actual testing in the lab.

He said he did not open the containers.

During earlier testimony, it was revealed that AJM40's fingernail clipping was smaller than the others as it was partly torn, and it was cut with larger scissors compared to most of the other nails which made it awkward to get a complete sample.

Mr Bagdonavicius was not involved in the initial DNA testing of the fingernails, which was done by his colleagues Anna-Marie Ashley, Laurie Webb and Scott Egan.

12.43pm

Day 41 of trial to start at 10am

Welcome to WAtoday's live coverage of day 41 of the Claremont serial killer trial in the Supreme Court of Western Australia.

Today, Pathwest forensic scientist Aleksander Bagdonavicius will continue to give evidence for a second day.

Prosecutor Carmel Barbagallo is taking Mr Bagdonavicius through his involvement in the testing of DNA samples and clothing samples relating to the Karrakatta cemetery rape victim, Ciara and Jane's cases.

Bradley Edwards has pleaded not guilty to the murders of Sarah Spiers, Jane Rimmer and Ciara Glennon.