Just days before what would have been Ciara Glennon’s 28th birthday in November 1997, her grieving family were given a gift from A MACRO detective and pathologist Dr Karin Margolius - a bit of their daughter back. A lock of her hair.

Detectives on the case had become close to the families as the massive investigation spanned months, turning into years, and this - as it was with Jane Rimmer’s family - an act of compassion.

This act, however has somewhat divided our podcast team, with veteran 7NEWS reporter Alison Fan describing the act of signing out the hair mass for two days as ’bizarre’.

As forensic scientist Aleks Bagdonavicius finished his evidence today, he revealed a record, which showed one of the crucial DNA exhibits, Ciara Glennon’s left middle fingernail labelled AJM 42, had at some point between 2001 and 2003 been tested with results showing a ‘possible match for male DNA’. This had never been heard in court before.

The only time the court had previously been told of male DNA showing up in AJM42 was when it was sent to the UK for further testing - and only when it was joined with Ciara Glennon’s thumbnail, AJM 40, that it revealed a male DNA profile, which the prosecution says matched the male DNA found on the Karrakatta rape victim - Bradley Robert Edwards.

As the day’s proceedings came to a close on the final day of week nine, the prosecution listed the witnesses for the next week, and the witnesses they will call to complete the DNA portion of the trial.

One notable name which wasn’t mentioned was Laurie Webb - the PathWest manager who had a huge involvement in handling evidence from both Jane Rimmer and Ciara Glennon, as well as samples from the Karrakatta rape victim. He was sacked from PathWest in 2016 for cutting corners in his work.

The West Australian Legal Affairs editor Tim Clarke reveals the scoop he’s uncovered about why his name wasn’t mentioned in this episode of Claremont in Conversation.

You can also read Tim’s exclusive story at thewest.com.au.

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