Claremont murders trial delayed due to 'public health concern'
The mother of the man accused of the Claremont serial killings was waiting where his prison vehicle usually drives into the court premises on Monday before learning proceedings had been cancelled for the day.
The Claremont serial killings trial was set to resume 24 years to the day since the second victim vanished, but has instead been pushed back. WAtoday understands prosecutor Carmel Barbagallo is unwell with a mild cold.
All of the evidence has been presented at Bradley Robert Edwards' lengthy judge-alone trial in the Western Australian Supreme Court and on Monday, Ms Barbagallo was expected to begin her closing submissions.
Bradley Edwards on day two of the Claremont serial killer case.Credit:Nine News
Instead, a large group of reporters and members of the public who had gathered early at the court were told there had been an "administrative adjournment" and the trial would resume on Tuesday.
A spokesman for the court said it was due to a "public health concern" but did not elaborate.
The trial is one of few going ahead during the coronavirus crisis, with jury trials banned due to health-based restrictions.
After prosecutors took 85 days to call about 200 witnesses and put forward their case against the accused Claremont serial killer, the defence took just minutes to confirm it would not be calling any witnesses, including Bradley Edwards.
It marked the completion of the state and defence's evidence in the mammoth trial, which began on November 25, 2019.
After closing submissions Justice Hall will retire to reach his verdict, which is expected to take weeks, if not months, given the amount of evidence produced in the trial.
Mr Edwards has pleaded not guilty to the murders of Sarah Spiers, Jane Rimmer and Ciara Glennon, who all vanished from Claremont in the mid-90s after a night out with friends.
With AAP