When Claremont exhibits were sent over the to the UK for expert low copy number testing, the exhibits which are now seen as crucial to the prosecution’s case - Ciara Glennon’s fingernails - went missing.

It turns out they were never ‘missing’, just separated from the other exhibits and placed in a fridge for storage.

As Tim Clarke explains, there must have been a sense panic that went through that lab in the time the exhibits were thought to be missing.

The scientists didn’t know just how important these fingernails would be to the case at that time, because they hadn’t yet been tested.

But what they did have with them, that were considered important at the time, were samples from multiple ‘people of interest’ to the case, which they planned to test against the Claremont samples.

As the Claremont Serial Killings trial entered its 50th day, another cold case which gripped WA was in the headlines again, just over two years since a conviction was made.

But today, that conviction of Francis Wark was overturned. He was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of 17-year-old WA teenager Hayley Dodd in 1999. Hayley’s body was never found.

Tim Clarke says this raises questions in the case of Sarah Spiers.

The Claremont in Conversation podcast team discuss what, if any implications this could have on the Claremont case.

If you want to know more about the Hayley Dodd case, head to https://thewest.com.au/news/court-justice/francis-john-wark-to-face-re-trial-for-murder-of-hayley-dodd-after-conviction-quashed-on-appeal-ng-b881468701z

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