Alleged Claremont serial killer trial: DPP sets aside entire office floor

AN entire floor of the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions has been put aside for the specialised team working on the prosecution of the alleged Claremont serial killer, it has been revealed.

As reported earlier this month, $1.8 million has been specially set aside in this year’s state budget to fund the work going into what is already one of the biggest criminal cases in WA legal history.

And answering questions about that allocation in parliamentary estimates last night, attorney general John Quigley and DPP Amanda Forrester revealed more details about the massive prosecution.

Mr Quigley confirmed that such is the scale of the case, a “special secure floor has been leased” for the prosecution team, which is being led by Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Carmel Barbagallo.

And Ms Forrester said on that floor are rooms of documents which are having to be catalogued, redacted, and scanned so it can be produced to defence lawyers “in a manageable way”.

“We cannot just back it up in a truck and give it to the defence lawyers,” Ms Forrester said.

“It involves three homicides allegedly committed at different times plus two other historical offences. We envisage that it will be a very long trial, if there is a trial.”

Bradley John Edwards has yet to enter a plea on accusations that he murdered Sarah Spiers, 18, Jane Rimmer, 23, and Ciara Glennon, 27. Mr Edwards, who has been in custody for nearly 18 months, is due in court again in July,

Ms Forrester said at that hearing disclosure is meant to be complete

“At this stage of proceedings, the DPP, or the prosecution, does not have any idea what the defence is. It simply has to provide everything that might be potentially relevant to any issue. The member can imagine how enormous a 20-year investigation is,” Ms Forrester said.

“We are well experienced, particularly my deputy director is well experienced in massive prosecutions —not one this big because we have not had one this big — but if I had to assign anyone to make sure that everything was disclosed, I could not find a better person.”

Mr Quigley said that as much money as was needed would be made available to see the case through.

“At the outset, the accused is presumed to be not guilty so the director has to prepare the case as though it is going to trial and will go the full distance at trial,” Mr Quigley said.

“As the director said, not only has it been under investigation for 20 years, but also the member can imagine over that time the police were advertising for information: “Ring Crime Stoppers”. All manner of people rang Crime Stoppers with information.

“It all has to be assessed and prepared for disclosure. It is a mammoth task.”