Claremont serial killings trial: Proceeds from Bradley Robert Edwards’ Kewdale home to help pay for legal bill

When Bradley Edwards’ home is sold a chunk of the proceeds will go into Government coffers to help recoup some money from the extraordinary legal costs stumped up by taxpayers to defend the alleged serial killer. Legal Aid WA has lodged a security against Mr Edwards’ interest in the property on Acton Avenue in Kewdale at which he was dramatically arrested on December 22, 2016. He hasn’t been back there since. Whatever the State gets back it will only represent a tiny fraction of Mr Edwards’ huge defence costs, estimated to exceed $3 million. The security, known as a memorial, was lodged on May 29, 2017. The encumbrance gives the WA Government a claim against the property to cover Mr Edwards’ legal costs. And it will remain regardless of the outcome of trial, with the verdict pencilled in for September 24. The house was bought for $135,000 in August 2000. The current average sale price for similar sized properties in the suburb is $450,000. Legal Aid WA Director Graham Hill said: “Speaking generally, if clients without financial means were not funded by LAWA, their trial would be unlikely to go ahead, and in many cases victims and families of victims would be left in limbo,” he said. “In a case where the person granted aid owns property, LAWA will place a memorial on that person’s portion of the property. “An initial amount of what is owed is agreed on, with the understanding it can increase if more is spent during a trial. “LAWA is responsible for administering public funds, and with this comes an obligation to seek a contribution from the person who we have assisted. “Regardless of the outcome of the trial, the money has still been spent and LAWA is entitled to recover the costs from the client’s portion of the property, if it is sold.” LAWA cannot force the sale of the house and has to wait until the property is sold. After 20 years of dead ends in the Claremont serial killings investigation, the Acton Avenue property became ground zero for Operation Macro in December 2016. Heavily armed police raided the house three days before Christmas at 7.40am. A video of Mr Edwards’ arrest, shown in court during the trial, revealed boxes stacked against the wall of passageway, bags on the floor, peeling paint and little in the way of furnishings. “It’s not the best house,” Mr Edwards told detectives before he was taken away for questioning. The house was searched top-to-bottom over the next two days. The cost of the Claremont serial killer trial is expected to exceed $11 million. This reflected the volume of evidence amassed over two decades by police as well as the complexity of the case. The trial ended on Thursday after 95 days. LAWA is paying for Mr Edwards’ senior counsel, junior counsel, solicitors, paralegals and experts. According LAWA’s annual report, it received $1.2 million in recovered costs in 2019.