THE trial of Bradley Robert Edwards, the man accused of the Claremont serial killings, will be staged at the WA District Court because it has one of the largest court rooms in the state.

Such is the level of interest in the case that the public will be able to watch proceedings on a large screen, closed-circuit television set up outside the courtroom but inside the District Court building.

The families of the victims will be segregated in the jury room, with media to be placed in another room.

Mr Edwards’ family will be consulted on whether they would like a room to be set aside for them.

At a case management hearing today, Paul Yovich, Mr Edwards’ defence counsel, asked Justice Stephen Hall to bar the media from a February 14 directions hearing.

Media organisations have until February 13 to oppose that request.

Camera Icon Denis Glennon (centre, with white hair), the father of Ciara Glennon, leaves court today. Photo: Rachel Fenner. Credit: Supplied / Supplied

It also emerged that some of the witnesses to be called by the prosecution are in ill health.

Prosecutor Carmel Barbagallo has until the next hearing to decide whether those witnesses will film testimony.

Other witnesses will be flying from interstate or giving their testimony via videolink.

Ms Barbagallo said ChemCentre analysis of fibres should be completed by April and that it was “an examination and further analysis of the vehicle we say the accused was driving when Ciara Glennon went missing and the clothing he was wearing”.

Mr Edwards (50) has pleaded not guilty to all charges against him.

These include the murders of Sarah Spiers and Jane Rimmer in 1996, and Ciara Glennon in 1997.

Edwards is also accused of attacking an 18-year-old woman in her Huntingdale home in 1988 and raping a 17-year-old girl in Karrakatta in 1995.

The former Little Athletics coach appeared in the West Australian Supreme Court on Thursday via video link from Hakea Prison, where he has been held since his arrest in December 2016.

Mr Edwards wore Hakea Prison greens and glasses and remained calm throughout proceedings.