S2E73: The 1000 Fibres Found in Jane’s Hair

The sheer lengths ChemCentre scientists went to, to test the MACRO exhibits were again showed during the day’s evidence.

After Jane’s hair was separated, run under a polilight, tweezed, shoock and looked over many times to find fibres, another method was used to try and find more.

Her hair mass was washed and filtered - and 1000 new fibres were found.

As Forensic expert Brendan Chapman explains, it’s not a method commonly used.

22 of those fibres are critical to the prosecution’s case.

And one of them is unique - a blue-grey polypropylene fibre. When the car Bradley Edwards drove in the 90s was seized in 2016, that lone fibre found in Jane’s hair ‘matched’ with a fibre from the boot of the car.

This evidence came right at the end of the day, and there’s more to come.

In this episode, Brendan Chapman explains what it means when the witnesses say fibres ‘matched’ with one another, and why he doesn’t like using that word, even though it’s the best word to describe fibre features corresponding with each other.

He tells us that even though fibres can match, scientists can’t tell us where the fibres originated.

Tim Clarke has compiled his own spreadsheet of the fibres, where they came from and why they’re important - he takes us through the critical ones key to the prosecution’s case.

Join Natalie Bonjolo, Tim Clarke and Brendan Chapman as they take you through day 73’s proceedings.

The West Australian has also released a two-part video series, as Tim Clarke takes you through the areas which are key to the trial, from Claremont, where the women went missing, to Hollywood hospital and to the sites were Jane Rimmer and Ciara Glennon’s bodies were found.

To watch those videos, head to:

Part 1:

https://thewest.com.au/news/claremont-serial-killings/claremont-serial-killings-trial-tim-clarke-takes-you-on-a-visual-tour-of-claremont-ng-b881516606z

Part 2:

https://thewest.com.au/news/claremont-serial-killings/claremont-serial-killings-trial-tim-clarke-takes-you-to-wellard-and-eglington-ng-b881517153z

If you have any questions for the Claremont in Conversation podcast team, send them in to [email protected] See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.