I’M ASHAMED OF SEX WITH EMMA
Accused says he carried on despite being asked to stop
THE Emma Caldwell murder suspect has admitted being “ashamed” he did not stop during an alleged sex attack on her the year before the alleged killing.
Iain Packer yesterday took the witness box on day 20 of his trial at the High Court in Glasgow.
The 51-year-old now faces 36 charges involving multiple women including the murder of sex worker Emma, 27, at Limefield Woods in Biggar, South Lanarkshire on April 5, 2005.
Prosecutors withdrew 10 other accusations he originally faced. The former sign-fitter was quizzed by his KC Ronnie Renucci on each charge, which span between 1990 and 2016.
They mainly centre on sex workers and women he had been living with at the time.
Packer’s denials yesterday included the alleged victims had consented, he did not know them or the accusations did not occur.
Mr Renucci asked him about one charge of indecently assaulting Emma in August 2004 in the Glasgow’s east end.
Packer – who admitted at one stage using sex workers eight to 10 times a month – had driven there that day, but had not been looking for Emma, who he knew.
He said he spotted her in the street, she agreed to a particular sexual request and they went behind nearby billboards.
Mr Renucci: “Did anything happen?”
Packer: “I remember Emma saying something, but what she said, I do not remember.
“I do not know if she said ‘enough’ or ‘stop’.”
Asked if he did ‘stop’, Packer said: “Not straight away.”
He claimed Emma appeared “fine” although the trial has earlier heard allegations that she was “upset” after the incident.
Mr Renucci: “Looking back now, she said words to the effect of ‘no’ or ‘enough’, but you carried on. Should you have carried on?”
Packer: “I should have stopped.” He added he now felt “ashamed”.
Packer also said he had gone to Limefield Woods with sex workers six times and with one of the women twice.
The court heard he allegedly got angry with her after asking her to take her clothes off. He was said to be “banging his fists” off his head.
Asked how he felt about that now, Packer stated: “It is wrong and embarrassing.”
But he denied being aware the woman was “frightened” by him.
Packer refuted a charge that he presented an imitation firearm at another sex worker claiming he did not know her.
He was also quizzed about an allegation he raped a teenage girl in the early 90s in Glasgow. Packer told the trial there was “absolutely” no truth in it.
He later claimed he was the victim of “lies” from 25 different women.
In cross-examination, prosecutor Richard Goddard KC put to Packer the case now involved 25 women, with 17 being sex workers.
A total of 12 claim they were raped or that Packer attempted to rape them. Mr Goddard: “So, 25 different women from all these unconnected backgrounds and walks of life… are they all just making it up?” Packer replied: “Yes.” Mr Goddard asked: “They have picked one man to tell lies about – and that man is you. Just bad luck on your part?” Packer said: “It must be.” The trial, before judge Lord Beckett, continues.