S2E51: "The DNA Doesn't Lie"

THAT moment, the phone call which changed the Claremont Serial Killings investigation after almost two decades of nothing, was described by the police officer, that took the call from UK scientists who said male DNA had been found with Ciara Glennon’s fingernail samples. That officer was former head of MACRO, Jim Stanbury, who took the stand today. What followed the call would change the whole investigation. Police no longer had to rely on alibis or witnesses. The DNA doesn’t lie, and if the person of interest didn’t match the male DNA found, they weren’t considered a suspect anymore. That’s how the man police suspected for almost a decade of being the Claremont Serial Killer - Lance Williams - was cleared. Day 51 of the Claremont Serial Killings trial also revealed the other high profile cases which police had sent tp the UK. We’d previously heard about the Gerard Ross murder case, but the FSS also tested exhibits from one of WA’s most high profile murder cases in recent history, the murder of Corryn Rayney, as well as a double homicide which ended up in a conviction - which Justice Hall himself sentenced. We found out this because Det Sgt Stanbury had to fly to the UK to collect the exhibits when the FSS was shut down. In this episode, Natalie Bonjolo, Tim Clarke and forensic DNA expert Brendan Chapman discuss why the UK state lab, which helped in the breakthrough for WA police, was shut down, “The CSI effect”, and the moment of relief for investigators of the Claremont case. We also answer some of your questions. If you have any questions for the podcast team, or any of their guests, send them in to [email protected]