Detectives say suspicions about Emma Caldwell’s killer have been ignored by superiors | EUROtoday

Former detectives concerned within the preliminary investigation into the homicide of Emma Caldwell have stated their suspicions relating to her killer, Iain Packer, have been ignored by superiors.

Ms Caldwell, 27, was killed in 2005, but it was not till 2024 that Packer was convicted of her homicide, together with a string of sexual offences towards different ladies.

Two detectives from Operation Grail – the police title for the investigation – confirmed that they and the overwhelming majority of their colleagues in 2005 have been sure of Packer’s guilt, with one asserting he was “100 per cent certain”.

Instead, a gaggle of Turkish males have been arrested in reference to Ms Caldwell’s homicide in 2007, however the case towards them subsequently collapsed.

These former detectives spoke to a podcast sequence which is inspecting the deaths of a variety of ladies concerned in intercourse work round Glasgow within the Nineties and early 2000s.

The Beware Book podcast examines the deaths of eight ladies in the course of the interval, 4 of which stay unsolved.

The podcast takes its title from a journal which was utilized by ladies concerned in intercourse work to warn one another about doubtlessly harmful or suspicious shoppers.

Former detective Davie Barr accompanied the podcast hosts to Limefield Woods close to Biggar – the location the place Ms Caldwell’s physique was present in 2005.

He stated he was satisfied that Packer was the killer, even phoning his senior investigating officer at dwelling to inform him this, however was advised “he’ll never be accused”.

Packer had even advised Mr Barr that he had introduced Ms Caldwell to Limefield Woods, an admission which had shocked Mr Barr.

Mr Barr stated: “Everybody felt the same. Now I’m talking about people in the incident room, sergeants, inspectors, people who had been in the job a lot longer than me…

“I kid you not, every day in life in that incident room we would speak about it. How can it not be him?”

He continued: “The really pathetic thing is that other people suffered, other girls were sexually assaulted, in the years that he’s been free, which is unacceptable.

“Other people should be ashamed of their actions, for what they did.”

He continued: “I can’t speak for everybody, but I’m pretty sure if you gathered every single officer who worked in Operation Grail, there was only one person that didn’t think Iain Packer was responsible, and that was the SIO (senior investigating officer), who was getting directions from elsewhere.

“You know, we were told, it’s not him, just got on with it.

“Later on in my service, I think I’d have questioned things a lot more. It wouldn’t have made any difference.”

Another former detective, Stuart Hall, additionally spoke of his certainty that Packer was the killer – telling the podcast that he felt “this is the guy”.

He stated: “There was a colleague coming down the stairs and he says well, what would you think? Yeah, I said. It was him. 100 per cent, I’m certain it’s him.”

He continued: “It wasn’t until later on that I was taken in to the boss’s room, the superintendent’s room, where the acting detective inspector put it to me, or instructed me, I have to do no more work on Packer.”

The newest episode of Beware Book might be obtainable on podcast apps on Monday.

A public inquiry, chaired by Lord Scott KC, is because of look at the police investigation into the homicide.

In response to the feedback within the podcast, Police Scotland’s deputy chief constable Alan Speirs stated: “Emma Caldwell’s family have shown incredible courage and determination following her murder in 2005 and we are absolutely committed to supporting the inquiry and getting her loved ones the answers they deserve.”