Emma and her family ‘failed by Scotland’s justice system’
former editor of a newspaper which investigated Iain Packer on the 10th anniversary of Emma Caldwell’s murder, after which the police inquiry was reopened, has said she was “failed” by the justice system.
Jim Wilson was editor of The Sunday Mail when it branded Packer “the forgotten suspect” in 2015, and he claimed the authorities “concealed” Packer and left him “freetocommitmore crimes”.
Sevenweeksafter the newspaper’s investigation, then lord advocate Frank Mulholland ordered the case to be reopened.
Mr Wilson also accused Police Scotland of an“unlawful”probe into the newspaper’ s sources in the aftermath of the story, rather than focusing on the killer. The Investigatory Powers Tribunal ruled in 2022 that Police Scotland breached Mr Wilson’s rights when it sought to identify The Sunday Mail’s sources for the story.
Six years earlier, it found the force had acted “unlawfully” when looking at the cases of individuals whose data was accessed as the force tried to determine how information about the murder investigationreached the press. mr wilson said the case was characterised by“official concealment, delay and denial” which allowed Packer to “terrorise” other women.
Speaking after Packer was found guilty of murdering Miss Caldwell and a host of other charges, Mr Wilson said: “Iain Packer will finally pay for his crimes but police and prosecutors who allowed him to remain free for almost 20 years must also be held to account. “Police Scotland and the Crown Office did nothing because it was professionally embarrassing to admit mistakes and put them right.”
The police investigation initially focused on four Turkish men who were arrested in 2007 after a two-year surveillance operation on a cafe in Glasgow following interviews with other sex workers, but the case collapsed after issues with translation.
Packer lodged a special defence of incrimination against two of the men, claiming they were responsible for Miss Caldwell’s murder.
Mr Wilson said: “A killer was concealed because the author the ities did not want to explain a murder investigation that lasted two-and-a-half years, cost £4 million, targeted the wrong men and left the prime suspect free to commit more crimes and inflict more grief and misery.
“The decision to investigate our sources instead of reopening the inquiry was appalling but only one example of the official concealment, delay and denial that has characterised this scandal.
“Scotland’s justice system failed Emma Caldwell, her family and all the women terrorised by Packer in the years he was allowed to remain free.
“Hisconvictionhasanswered one question but Police Scotlandandthecrownofficemust answer many more.”
A Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) spokesperson said: “Iain Packer has been found to be a violent sexual predator who murdered Emma Caldwell and preyed on and abused other young women. His conviction follows a large and complex investigation.
“It is a matter of regret that it has taken until now for justice to be served. The Lord Advocate has offered to meet with Emma’smother toanswerany questions she may have and discuss the investigation and criminal proceedings.”