Claremont killings: Bradley Robert Edwards found guilty of killing Ciara Glennon and Jane Rimmer
Convicted Claremont killer Bradley Robert Edwards has been seen for the first time in four years, after being found guilty of murdering two out of three women in a case that shocked the nation.
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Bradley Robert Edwards was the man who stalked Claremont in Western Australia in the 1990s, snatched Jane Rimmer and Ciara Glennon off the street, killed them both and then hid their bodies in the hope they were never discovered.
But in the eyes of the law, he was not guilty of doing the same to Sarah Spiers.
That was the conclusion reached by Justice Stephen Hall after WA’s trial of the century reached its dramatic conclusion today at the Supreme Court – marking the end of the state’s most enduring murder mystery.
Almost.
While the two convictions of murder against Edwards will mean he will receive a life sentence in prison – with prosecutor Carmel Barbagallo saying she may well ask for life without parole – the question of what happened to Ms Spiers, and where her body is, remains unknown.
But WA Police commissioner Chris Dawson said today her case will remain open, and they will never give up looking for her.
“This is an important day for justice in Western Australia,” he said.
“The Claremont killings struck at the heart of our way of life, stretching back almost a quarter of a century.
“Three innocent young women were killed along with the hopes and dreams they never got to fulfil.
“The justice system has taken its course and Bradley Edwards has now been convicted of killing two of those women, Jane Rimmer and Ciara Glennon.
“The investigation into the murder of Sarah Spiers remains open.
“We will never give up trying to locate Sarah and I have conveyed that to Don and Carol Spiers today and to Amanda.
“So we must never forget Jane, Ciara and Sarah, and the devastating effect these crimes have had on their families.
“We must also recognise the devastation and serious crimes committed on those other women that Bradley Edwards has admitted, and is now also convicted of.
“These victims and the witnesses must be commended for their courage and their resilience.
“Bradley Edwards can now be called for what he is. A brutal rapist and a murderer.
“I acknowledge and thank all those family members for their strength and their resilience. I’ve just spent some time with all those family members they have carried themselves and continue to with patience, grace and dignity, under the most tragic of circumstances.
“Today’s verdicts are a testament to many years of work. It does demonstrate that WA police officers will never give up.
“The current team that stand behind me today are one of over 700 police, and analysts and forensic experts that were directly allocated to investigate these crimes which stretch back 32 years.
“Many hundreds more police were involved in pain staking land searches in answering 10s of thousands of phone calls over the years.
“And we can all be immensely proud of those officers and the contribution theyve made over many years.”
On a day like no other in WA criminal history, members of the public wanting to witness that history gathered outside the court from before sunrise.
Edwards has returned to Casuarina Prison for a three month wait to learn his fate after an unprecedented media throng also gathered in preparation for the culmination of 24 years of pain, loss and grief.
That loss began on January 27, 1996, when Ms Spiers went missing after a night out with friends at Club Bayview.
It doubled when Ms Rimmer vanished from the same streets in June of that year.
And when her body was discovered weeks later, the WA police and public knew feared a multiple killer was in their midst.
The vanishing of Ms Glennon in March 1997, and the discovery of her remains, saw the words “serial killer” uttered for the first time by the police now in charge of the largest manhunt in the state’s history.
And while those days saw West Australians, particularly young women, change their behaviour and their idea of what was safe, the intervening years saw countless frustrations to the investigation labelled Macro.
Even police involved began to fear the case would never be solved.
But today, with the conviction of Edwards, two of those cases were closed – with Justice Hall outlining the reasons why in a surprisingly short address of just under 30 minutes.
Edwards wore a blue shirt and a black jacket and remained quiet, shaking his head at times, as Justice Hall delivered a summary of his judgment.
“This is a trial like no other. This is a trial like every other. Those apparently irreconcilable statements are both true,” Justice Hall said.
“It is a trial like no other because of the combination of its length, its size and the high degree of public interest.
“The events in question occurred more than 20 years ago but have haunted the memory of many people and troubled the public conscience.
“The disappearance and likely murder of three young women was in itself enough to cause wide concern.
“The fact that all three went missing from a popular nightlife area frequented by many young people inspired a real and pervasive sense of fear.”
In his summary, Justice Hall said the striking similarities between the murders of Ms Rimmer and Ms Glennon were many – meaning one man killed them both.
They included their age, their presence in Claremont the time they went missing, the way they were killed – with a knife cutting their necks – and the way they defended themselves.
And he said the forensic evidence on both bodies – DNA and fibres on Ms Glennon and fibres on Ms Rimmer – meant he could find, beyond reasonable doubt, Edwards was that man.
But, he said although there was also similarities with Ms Spiers’ disappearance, the absence of physical evidence meant that proof to the same standard had not been reached.
“The propensity evidence makes it more likely that the accused was the killer of Ms Spiers but it cannot prove it beyond reasonable doubt in the absence of any other evidence as to the identity of her killer,” he said.
The reaction in the court to the verdicts was muted – with Edwards shaking his head as he realised he was about to become a convicted double killer.
But according to the FBI definition, he is not a serial killer – which is typically a person who murders three or more people.
Commissioner Dawson, whose role in the Claremont case saw him sign off on crucial exhibits being sent for testing to the UK – where the DNA on Ciara’s fingernails was discovered – comforted the parents of Don and Carole Spiers first.
Justice Hall said the case involved “the lives of real people”.
“Whatever interest others may have, a criminal trial is not a performance put on for either their edification or entertainment,” he said.
“The victims were real people who had families that loved them and who deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.”
Justice Hall said while the events in question occurred more than 20 years ago, they have haunted the memory of many people and troubled the public conscience since.
“The disappearance and likely murder of three young women was in itself enough to cause wide concern,” Justice Hall said.
“The fact that all three went missing from a popular nightlife area frequented by many young people inspired a real and pervasive sense of fear.”
There were tears amongst other family members present, and from the two living victims who Edwards attacked before the murders.
Commissioner Dawson paid tribute to them, while remembering the two women who did not survive.
“We must also recognise the devastation and serious crimes committed on those other women that Bradley Edwards has admitted, and is now also convicted of.
“These victims and the witnesses must be commended for their courage and their resilience.
“Bradley Edwards can now be called for what he is. A brutal rapist and a murderer.”
He also said on the courthouse steps: “Three innocent young women were killed along with the hopes and dreams they never got to fulfil.
“The investigation into the murder of Sarah Spiers remains open. We will never give up trying to locate Sarah and I have conveyed that to (the Spiers’ family).”
As Edwards left to head back to prison, his parents left the court saying nothing. Neither to the families of Ms Spiers or Ms Glennon. They will all return on December 23 for a sentencing hearing.
However Lee Rimmer -- the sister of Jane -- did speak.
It means that I can hopefully get on with the rest of my life without all this stuff.,. it means celebration,” she said.
“I think we all just wanted to have our own grief, that’s what I saw... I think you get some closure but it’s always going to be the same. No one’s ever going to bring her back.
“It’s very sad but I’m glad we got the result for the other two.
“Now we just have to keep working for the Spiers family and hope we find Sarah.”
Edwards will be remanded in custody until December 23 when he will be sentenced.
Justice Hall also ordered that a psychiatric report be prepared ahead of the sentencing whether Edwards takes part in it or not.
WA Premier Mark McGowan has commented following the historic decision to convict Bradley Robert Edwards over the murders of Ms Rimmer and Ms Glennon, saying the crimes had “haunted those involved” for more than two decades.
Accused Claremont serial killer Edwards was found guilty in the murders of childcare worker Jane, 23, and solicitor Ciara after snatching them from the streets of Claremont in the 1990s.
After a seven-month trial and three months of weighing up evidence, Justice Stephen Hall this morning delivered the long-awaited verdict.
Edwards was acquitted of slaying Sarah Spiers, but Mr McGowan said Sarah — along with Jane and Ciara — would not be forgotten.
“Every Western Australian is thinking of the families of Sarah, Jane and Ciara today,” Mr McGowan said.
“What happened to these young women changed our State. It caused unimaginable heartbreak and haunted those involved for almost 25 years.”
He added that “nothing will ever undo the pain felt by these brave families”.
“Throughout this long, tragic ordeal, Western Australia has grieved with you,” he said.
“The thoughts of every Western Australian will be with you forever.”
Every Western Australian is thinking of the families of Sarah, Jane and Ciara today.
— Mark McGowan (@MarkMcGowanMP) September 24, 2020
What happened to these young women changed our State.
It caused unimaginable heartbreak and haunted those involved for almost 25 years.
It took more than 20 years for WA Police to charge Edwards — with the murders of Ms Rimmer and Ms Glennon. It took them nearly two more years to add the name Sarah Spiers to that indictment, and another year for those charges to finally reach a trial.
It then took exactly seven months for all the evidence against Mr Edwards to be revealed, and examined, questioned and concluded.
Justice Hall weighed up everything he has heard over the 95 days presiding over WA’s trial of the century.
It is understood Edwards will be fed lunch at prison and returned to his cell, where he will be under 24 hour surveillance because of concerns about self-harm.
Sky News Australia will broadcast a special investigative documentary CATCHING THE CLAREMONT KILLER: THE UNTOLD STORY later this year.
Originally published as Claremont killings: Bradley Robert Edwards found guilty of killing Ciara Glennon and Jane Rimmer
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