Video showing the moment crucial pieces of evidence were taken from the body of lawyer Ciara Glennon during a post-mortem examination have been shown to the WA Supreme Court at the trial of the man accused of killing her and two other women.

Key points: Bradley Edwards is accused of killing Ciara Glennon, Jane Rimmer and Sarah Spiers

Bradley Edwards is accused of killing Ciara Glennon, Jane Rimmer and Sarah Spiers The prosecution's evidence relies heavily on DNA samples taken from Ms Glennon

The prosecution's evidence relies heavily on DNA samples taken from Ms Glennon The DNA was found underneath her fingernails after her body was dumped

Bradley Robert Edwards, 51, is accused of the wilful murders of 27-year-old Ms Glennon, 23-year-old Jane Rimmer and 18-year-old Sarah Spiers between 1996 and 1997.

The prosecution's case depends heavily on samples taken from Ms Glennon's fingernails, from which DNA was extracted.

The samples, which became identified as AJM 40 and AJM 42, were found to contain a mixed DNA profile matching two people — Ms Glennon and Edwards.

Bradley Robert Edwards denies murdering three women. ( Facebook: KLAC )

The post-mortem examination video shown in court on Friday was deemed too graphic for the public and was only made visible to the judge, senior legal personnel and Edwards.

Fingernail DNA led to breakthrough

Former state mortuary manager Robert Macdermid, who cut Ms Glennon's fingernails during the autopsy, gave evidence as the video was played and said former PathWest forensic biologist Laurie Webb was also present during the examination.

In January 2009, Mr Webb made a significant breakthrough in the Claremont case, linking the DNA found under Ms Glennon's fingernails to that found on a swab taken from the 17-year-old victim of a violent rape at Karrakatta Cemetery.

On the eve of the trial, Edwards sensationally admitted to that rape and the separate assault of an 18-year-old woman, but has continued to plead not guilty to the murders.

At one point during the post-mortem examination of Ms Glennon's body, Mr Macdermid was heard on the video saying, "I can't get them Laurie, I can't get them".

Forensic police examine the bush crime scene where Ms Glennon's body was found. ( ABC News )

When asked what he was referring to, Mr Macdermid said it had initially been difficult to cut the nails because he was using a pair of scissors which were too big for the job.

He had earlier used the same pair of scissors to cut Ms Glennon's clothing from her body.

He then switched to a smaller pair to cut the nails.

Second body in mortuary during autopsy

Under questioning from state prosecutor Sam Hollingsworth, Mr Macdermid said instruments used in autopsies were cleaned between use and the theatre was cleaned rigorously with disinfectant before each examination.

When cross-examined by defence counsel Paul Yovich SC, Mr Macdermid said it was not common for mortuary instruments such as scissors to be routinely cleaned between use on different parts of the same body.

He said they would be cleaned if they got especially dirty and between post-mortem examinations on different bodies.

The three women disappeared between 1996 and 1997. ( ABC News )

Mr Yovich asked Mr Macdermid if another body could be seen on a gurney in the background of the vision.

He agreed that a body bag could be seen in the video.

Court given insight into Glennon's private life

On Thursday the court was shown a series of intimate photographs of the bedroom and personal items belonging to Ms Glennon.

Senior Sergeant Alexander Wells, who in 1997 was a constable in the crime scene unit, testified he had gone to the home Ms Glennon shared with her parents in the riverside Perth suburb of Mosman Park to photograph and collect items that might help police in their search for her.

The 27-year-old was reported missing by her family when she failed to return home after drinks with her work colleagues in Claremont on March 15, 1997.

Her body was found in coastal scrub in Eglinton, north of Perth, nearly three weeks later, on April 3.

Ciara Glennon's body was found in bushland in Perth's northern suburbs. ( ABC News )

Photographs taken by Sergeant Wells on March 16 showed Ms Glennon's bedroom containing a double and a single bed, a desk with a small portable TV on it and built-in robes.

Clothes were strewn across the single bed, there were numerous pairs of shoes on the floor. A wall-mounted shelf held a painting, a dried flower arrangement and a large round-handled wicker basket.

A black satchel-style handbag was on one of the beds — in which police found a hairbrush, scrunchie and a tissue — as was a novel.

Other items seized from the bedroom and an adjoining bathroom included friendship bands, hair ties, a gold-coloured toothbrush, a learner's driving permit and a greeting card.

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Watch Duration: 3 minutes 59 seconds 3 m 59 s A timeline of the Claremont serial killings

Photographs of the bathroom showed a bottle of face cream, body scrub, shampoos, soaps and hair ties.

Items of interest listed on a sheet partly compiled by Sergeant Wells also included a fur sample from Ms Glennon's dog, Danny, as well as a sample from her sister Denise's dog, Pierre.

Ms Glennon had returned to Perth from a year of overseas travel in order to be a bridesmaid at Denise's wedding.

But she vanished before the marriage took place, leaving her devastated family to hold the wedding without her a fortnight after her disappearance.

The trial before Justice Stephen Hall continues.