Hayley Dodd’s killer appealing murder conviction
The man accused of murdering a teenager in a remote part of Western Australia in 1999 is appealing his murder conviction.
Francis John Wark, 62, is one year into a life sentence, for the murder of Hayley Dodd.
Hayley, 17, was last seen hitchhiking on a remote road in Badgingarra in July 1999.
A Supreme Court judge last year found Wark guilty of luring Hayley into his ute and killing her in a violent sexual assault, before dumping her body.
Francis John Wark, 62, is one year into a life sentence for the 1999 murder of 17-year-old Haley Dodd. 9news
His lawyer, Sam Vandongen, today argued there were "anomalies" in the collection and storage of an earring found embedded in Wark's car seat 14 years after the disappearance.
The jewellery, worn by Hayley on the day she vanished, was missed in the original police search.
The appeal also claimed there was no clear reason for why Wark's alibi, that he was shopping 50 kilometres away, was rejected.
Outside court, Hayley's mother, Margaret Dodd, said it was hard hearing the details again. 9news
Hayley, 17, was last seen hitchhiking on a remote road in Badgingarra in July 1999. 9news
Mr Vandongen said the judge relied on "speculation and guesswork" to place him inside the half-hour window Hayley disappeared.
Outside court, Hayley's mother, Margaret Dodd, said it was hard hearing the details again.
"This is the justice process, so it's what we have to put up with," she said.
Francis Wark is serving a minimum 21-year jail term, but won't be considered for parole unless he reveals the location of Hayley Dodd's body.
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