Claremont murder: DNA evidence helps man convicted of killing two women in one of Australia’s most infamous cold cases


Bradley Robert Edwards was convicted on Thursday of the murders of 23-year-old childcare worker Jane Rimmer and 1996 lawyer Sierra Glennon, 27. He was not convicted of the murder of 18-year-old Secretary Sarah Spiers, whose 18-year-old secretary Sarah Spiers was killed. The body was not found due to insufficient evidence.

The verdict comes after a seven-month trial of a judge-alone case that has been on the rise in Perth, Australia.

Justice Stephen Hall of the Western Australia Supreme Court said in his judgment that the events in question are more than 20 years old but have tormented the memory of many and disturbed the conscience of the people.

“That in itself was enough to cause widespread concern about the disappearance of three young women and the possible murder. The realization that these three people were missing from a popular area of ​​nightlife was repeated by many young men.”

what happened

The three women were last seen in the early hours after spending a night in the prosperous Perth suburb of Claremont. Pictures of Spiers – who went missing in 1996 – were plastered around the city and she was regularly featured on the front pages of local newspapers.

The disappearance of the women caused widespread fear in Perth, where many were shocked to learn that women had been abducted from a suburb like Claremont that was considered safe.

“The fact that three young women had disappeared from the streets of Claremont revealed the mystery of the darkness.” “That means there was a mystery about who took the three victims.”

Within weeks of his death, the bodies of both Reimer and Glennon were found in Bushland. Hall said in his verdict that both were stabbed to death with a sharp force to the neck.

Holly said Spiers was last seen in the early hours of January 27, 1996. Her body was never found, but there is nothing to indicate that she is still alive.

He added, “She may have been abducted or killed, but the circumstances under which she was taken and how she died are not known.”

For decades, they disappeared. Then, in 2016, the police made progress.

Edwards – who was sent to prison in 2016 after being convicted of two rapes – was identified as a suspect.

Police matched his DNA with samples taken from under Glenn’s left hand nail. The plaintiff argues that the DNA probably came under her nails during a violent conflict before her death.

They also said the fibers found on Reimer and Glennon’s bodies matched those taken from Edwards’ work car, indicating that he had abducted both women in the vehicle. At the time of his abduction, Edwards was employed by the Australian Australian telecommunications company Telstra.

Reaction to the verdict

Welcoming the verdict on Thursday, Lee Rimmer said more than two decades had passed without his sister knowing what had happened.

He told me on CNN affiliate Channel 9, “I think you’re a little off but it’s always the same. No one will ever bring it back.”

Western Australia Premier Mark M Kagowan said what happened to young women changed the state.

“It causes incredible heartbreak and torments people involved for almost 25 years.” Said in a tweet After the verdict “the pain experienced by these brave families can never be undone.

“During this long, tragic ordeal, Western Australia has mourned with you.”

Edwards will be sentenced on December 23, according to a Channel 9 report.

CNN’s Samantha Beach and Angus Watts contributed to the reporting.

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