OK Spooks - my theory (I've just spent the day at the Lloyd Rayney Defamation Trial) today - loads of time to think. After BRE 2nd marriage breakup - BRE returns to drink at the Claremont Hotel (for chit/chat as I'm positive he's a loner). I'm unsure if he can handle his booze - and he makes a few weird comments and a patron/staff call the Police about this "odd" male; and upon checking the CCTV - they, ask the Hotel - do you happen to have the glass BRE was drinking from - and BINGO (DNA) ?
Full points Eaglette for having a go!
But there's just a couple of corrections to your theory that I'd like to suggest:
- The Claremont (and most pubs) are full of odd people that often can't handle their alcohol and make weird comments. Where would one start if calling cops to report a weirdo?!!
- Patrons are generally not interested in calling police re weirdos. Patrons either say something to the weirdo, complain to bar staff or security bouncers about the weirdo, leave the pub, or worst case scenario, not return to same pub.
- nowadays with RSA regulations, unattended glassware is collected promptly by glassies and cleaned quickly in washer so glasses have ample time to cool down before returning into circulation. So it's very unlikely that any staff could locate the specific glass used by any one patron. Virtually impossible unless glass was directly pulled from patron's own hand or if glass picked up by cops the instant the glass leaves the patron's hands.
- typically WAPOL don't respond to phone calls with reports of weirdo patrons at pubs. In my experience, cops usually only visit pubs when someone's been severely injured, or there's a massive fight involving lots of patrons!
- and if patrons did complain to staff about another patron acting weird, the security bouncers would deal with the situation and if necessary and warranted, evict the troublesome patron themselves.
Now I'm adding these suggestions as per what I've observed in Perth Pubs. So all JMO......