Those who left killer free for 20 years must be held to account
Journalist calls for action against prosecutors and police who refused to pursue case against Packer
The former editor of the newspaper that sparked a fresh probe into emma Caldwell’s killer Iain Packer has said she was “failed” by the justice system.
Jim Wilson headed our sister paper the Sunday Mail when it branded Packer “the forgotten suspect” in 2015 and he claimed the authorities “concealed” Packer and left him “free to commit more crimes”.
Seven weeks after the investigation, then lord advocate Frank Mulholland ordered the case be reopened.
Speaking after Packer was brought to justice this week, Wilson 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 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 find out how information about the probe reached the press.
Wilson said the case was characterised by “official concealment, delay and denial”, which allowed Packer to “terrorise” other women.
Wilson added: “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 arrested in 2007 after a two-year surveillance operation on a cafe in Glasgow following interviews with other sex workers but the case collapsed.
Packer lodged a special defence of incrimination against two of the men, claiming they were responsible for Emma’s murder.
Wilson said: “A killer was concealed because the authorities did not want to explain a murder investigation that lasted two-and-a-half years, cost £4million, 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.
“His conviction has answered one question but Police Scotland and the Crown Office must answer many more.”
The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service said: “The Lord Advocate has offered to meet with Emma’s mother Margaret to answer any questions she may have and discuss the investigation and criminal proceedings.
“We understand the impact of the time taken in securing justice for all those who have suffered because of Iain Packer’s actions.”
Police Scotland apologised for failings in policing in 2005. Assistant Chief Constable Bex Smith said: “Emma Caldwell, her family and many other victims were let down by policing in 2005. We are sorry.”
She said it is “clear” further investigations should have been carried out into the murder following the initial inquiry in 2005 and the lack of investigation until 2015 caused “unnecessary distress to her family and all those women who had come forward”.
She added “significant changes” had since been made.
They did nothing because it was embarrassing to admit mistakes