Claremont killer trial prosecutor appointed District Court judge

The woman who led the successful prosecution of Claremont killer Bradley Edwards has been appointed a District Court judge.

Carmel Barbagallo spearheaded the case which led to the conviction of the 52-year-old over the murders of Jane Rimmer and Ciara Glennon in the 1990s.

Prosecutor Carmel Barbagallo.Credit: Sharon Smith

The mammoth 95-day trial will be marked as Ms Barbagallo's last major case as a lawyer.

Ms Barbagallo will replace retiring judge Gillian Braddock and will take up her new position on February 2.

WA Attorney-General John Quigley said he was delighted to announce Ms Barbagallo's appointment.

“Experienced in criminal law, Ms Barbagallo has prosecuted some of the most serious and complex prosecutions in WA," he said.

“Ms Barbagallo is a highly intelligent and determined advocate and lawyer with a genuine empathy for victims, many of whom experience the most horrendous circumstances imaginable."

Her appointment follows a 30-year legal career, including years spent as a Crown and state prosecutor, securing the convictions of some of the country's worst criminals.

The announcement follows one of Edwards' defence lawyers, Genevieve Cleary, being appointed a Magistrate shortly after the end of his trial in July.

A sketch of Bradley Edwards, drawn during his sentencing on December 23, 2020.

Ms Barbagallo was expected to lead the prosecution against the man accused of murdering Perth teenager Hayley Dodd in 1999, Francis Wark, set down for trial in February. Director of Public Prosecutions Amanda Forrester will now take that case.

Edwards was sentenced in December to a minimum to 40 years behind bars, the longest non-parole period handed down in WA history.

He has until February 3 to lodge an appeal against his conviction or sentence.