Twist in Claremont serial killer case as Bradley Edwards ADMITS to rape but denies murder

Major twist in Claremont serial killer case as former Telstra worker ADMITS to raping a teenage girl in a cemetery – but still denies murdering three young women

Accused Claremont serial killer Bradley Edwards has admitted raping a 17-year-old girl in a cemetery but still denies murdering three young women.

The former Telstra worker is accused of slaying Sarah Spiers, 18, Jane Rimmer, 23, and Ciara Glennon, 27, who were all last seen on the affluent Perth suburb’s entertainment strip in 1996 and 1997.

The 50-year-old was also facing allegations he attacked an 18-year-old woman as she slept in her Huntingdale home in 1988 and that he twice raped a teenage girl at Karrakatta cemetery in 1995.

Accused Claremont serial killer Bradley Edwards (pictured) has admitted raping a 17-year-old girl in a cemetery but still denies murdering three young women

Edwards was facing a nine-month trial by judge on eight charges but changed his plea to guilty for five of those charges on Monday morning.  

At the final directions hearing before the trial, Edwards pleaded guilty to break-in, deprivation of liberty and sexual assault charges.

Prosecutor Carmel Barbagallo said the development would greatly reduce the length of the trial.

Defence counsel Paul Yovich said his preference was for the trial to begin as planned on November 18.

Supreme Court of WA Justice Stephen Hall said he was inclined to proceed as scheduled.

During previous pre-trial hearings, it emerged Edwards was convicted of assault for attacking a social worker from behind at Hollywood Hospital where he was working for Telstra in 1990.

The remains of Ms Glennon, a lawyer, and Ms Rimmer, a child care worker, were discovered in bushland at opposite ends of Perth weeks after their murders, both with some form of neck injury.

But the body of Ms Spiers, a secretary, has never been found. 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk