Long-running Claremont serial killer case

BREAKTHROUGH IN WA'S CLAREMONT SERIAL KILLINGS

THE CASE

Series of abductions and murders in Perth suburb of Claremont in 1990s

Three women abducted and murdered over 14 months in 1996 and 1997

All three had been on nights out in Claremont area

THE VICTIMS

* SARAH SPIERS

18-year-old legal secretary

Believed to be killer's first victim

Disappeared after night out with friends in Claremont, early hours of January 27, 1996

Body never found but it's suspected she's been murdered

* JANE RIMMER

23-year-old childcare worker

Abducted early hours of June 9, 1996, after night out with friends in Claremont

Body found in bushland at Wellard on August 3, 1996

* CIARA GLENNON

27-year-old lawyer

Abducted after night out in Claremont on March 14, 1997

Body found in bushland in Eglington on April 3, 1997

THE POLICE INVESTIGATION, OPERATION MACRO

Australia's longest-running and most expensive police investigation

Biggest and most complex in WA history

Has involved hundreds of officers over 20 years

Macro looked into Claremont abductions and murders; later expanded to include other serious crimes

Special crime squad allocated extra resources in 2015

More than 3000 people considered a person of interest in inquiries, police said in 2008

Thousands and thousands of investigative actions, police say

MAN CHARGED OVER TWO MURDERS AND ATTACKS ON TWO OTHER WOMEN

Bradley Roberts Edwards, 48, of Kewdale

Charged over:

* Murders of Ms Rimmer and Ms Glennon

* Abduction and sexual assault of 17-year-old walking through a Claremont park in early hours of February 12, 1995

* Indecent assault of 18-year-old during break-in at Huntingdale home on February 15, 1988

Police allege he acted alone

No charges related to Ms Spiers; investigation ongoing.