Emma Caldwell's family to meet First Minister John Swinney over Scottish judge row

The family of Emma Caldwell will meet Scotland’s First Minister and justice secretary on Tuesday amid concerns over who should lead a public inquiry into the police investigation of her murder.

Miss Caldwell’s body was found in Limefield Woods, near Roberton, South Lanarkshire, on May 8 2005, more than a month after the 27-year-old went missing in Glasgow.

Police interviewed Packer that June but he was not convicted of her murder, along with a series of rapes and other offences, until almost two decades later.

In March last year, the Scottish Government announced a public inquiry into the police handling of the murder investigation, and said that consideration would be given to it being led by a judge from outside Scotland.

Miss Caldwell’s family have pushed for the appointment of a judge from outside the Scottish jurisdiction, but a statement released last week on their behalf by their lawyer, Aamer Anwar, said they have been left with “no reassurance” on this point.

Emma’s mother Margaret, uncle Jim Coyle and Margaret’s grandson Stewart McGrory, along with Mr Anwar, will meet First Minister John Swinney and the cabinet secretary for justice Angela Constance in Bute House at 12.30pm on Tuesday to raise this issue.

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Our thoughts remain with Emma’s family for the terrible loss, pain and grief they have faced for many years.

“As announced in March, an independent, judge-led, statutory public inquiry will take place into the investigation of Emma’s murder in 2005. The First Minister and justice secretary are grateful for the opportunity to meet with the family to discuss further.”

Packer, 51, was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 36 years in February 2024 following a trial at the High Court in Glasgow.

He was also convicted of 11 charges of rape against nine women and 21 other offences over a period of 26 years following a six-week trial.

Packer was refused attempts to reduce his 36-year sentence at a hearing in September.

Packer had attempted to cut his sentence rejected last year. Police Scotland

Police Scotland apologised to the family and his other victims, saying they were “let down” by policing in 2005.

Emma’s family said Police Scotland failed their daughter and Packer’s rape victims due to a “toxic culture of misogyny and corruption”.

Politics

Emma Caldwell: Public inquiry into botched murder investigation announced

Scottish justice secretary Angela Constance confirmed that a judge-led inquiry will examine police failings during the Emma Caldwell murder probe.

A statement released on Friday said: “Emma Caldwell was 27 years old when she was murdered in 2005 by serial rapist Iain Packer. After nearly two decades of evading justice, Packer was finally convicted on February 28, 2024 as he was found guilty of 33 charges involving 22 women, including Emma’s murder and 11 counts of rape.

“He was sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of 36 years. Packer later sought to appeal the sentence, but his appeal was rejected in August 2024.

“After a tireless campaign for an independent Public Inquiry investigating the death of Emma Caldwell, an Inquiry was announced by the Scottish Government. Emma’s family and their lawyer, Aamer Anwar, demanded that the independent judge led Public Inquiry be presided over by a judge outside of the Scottish Jurisdiction. However, since then, there has been no progress in the appointment of a non-Scottish judge.

“The family have been left with no reassurance and feel there has been a deliberate attempt to impose a Scottish judge in the interim.

“The scale of the crimes and the failures are so catastrophic that only an independent judge outside of the Scottish justice system would suffice. The Police and the Crown Office cannot be trusted to investigate themselves or their former superiors.

The family of Emma Caldwell will meet John Swinney next week. Police Scotland

“Both the then-Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross and Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar were in agreement with this, with Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar pressing the First Minister last year on the issue of who should lead the Inquiry – stating that for any Inquiry to be “truly independent” it would have to be led by someone outside the Scottish justice system.

“Emma’s mother Margaret Caldwell along with her family and their lawyer, Aamer Anwar, will be raising this issue with the First Minister and the cabinet secretary for justice in Bute House on Tuesday, January 21, 2025 at 12.30pm.”