First Minister to meet with Emma Caldwell's mother following conviction of murderer Iain Packer

The mother of murdered woman Emma Caldwell will meet with the First Minister next week, following the conviction of her daughter’s killer.

Iain Packer, 51, was convicted this week of Ms Caldwell’s murder 18 years ago following a five-week trial at the High Court in Glasgow.

He was also found to have committed 12 indecent assaults, two sexual assaults, and 11 rapes against a total of 22 victims.

He was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 36 years.

On Friday, the justice secretary confirmed that along with Humza Yousaf, she will meet with Ms Caldwell’s mother Margaret next week.

Angela Constance made the announcement after the First Minister said he would “seriously consider” a public inquiry into police failings in its investigations into Ms Caldwell’s murder.

Emma’s family have said police failed their daughter and the rape victims of her killer due to a “toxic culture of misogyny and corruption”.

Iain Packer murdered Emma Caldwell 18 years ago. Contributed

In a statement after Iain Packer was convicted of murdering the 27-year-old in 2005, Emma Caldwell’s family said: “Instead of receiving justice and compassion, they (the victims) were humiliated, dismissed and in some instances arrested, whilst the police gifted freedom to an evil predator to rape and rape again.”

The justice secretary said: “Our thoughts are with Margaret Caldwell and Emma’s friends for their tragic loss, and to the many victims in this horrendous case. For Margaret Caldwell and the other victims in this case, justice has taken far too long.

“As the First Minister has very clearly stated, we are giving serious consideration and are open to a judge-led public inquiry. He was also clear that he wants to hear directly from Margaret Caldwell before we take any decision and the First Minister and I will meet with her next week.

“The outcome of this trial is the result of a thorough and complex reinvestigation of the case by Police Scotland and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, but it is absolutely right that Police Scotland has recognised and apologised for the failures of the original investigation. While I do think this means that many lessons have been learned by Police Scotland, at the time there is no doubt that women were failed.

“More widely, we need to eradicate the abhorrent violence against women and girls that is still prevalent, and all of our institutions need to continue to play a part in this journey. The only way we can fully protect women and girls and end violence is through fundamental societal change – a change in the actions and behaviour of those who perpetrate violence and abuse and to address and root out the causes of that violence, including toxic masculinity and gender inequality, that leads to violence, harassment, misogyny and abuse against women.”