Brute’s defence cost you £65,000
KILLER Iain Packer cost taxpayers almost £65,000 in legal aid as he denied murdering Emma Caldwell.
Packer, 51, murdered the 27-year-old and dumped her body in Limefield Woods near biggar, Lanarkshire, in April 2005.
He was convicted of her murder and 32 other charges of sexual abuse and violence towards 22 women and jailed for a minimum of 36 years on Wednesday.
It has been revealed that Packer’s defence team, led by Ronnie Rennuci KC, was given £64,205 in legal aid.
The final figure is expected to rise because firms have four months after the conclusion of proceedings to claim funds from the Scottish Legal Aid board (SLAb).
A spokesperson for SLAb said: “Anyone charged with a serious criminal offence has the right to a fair trial and effective representation helps ensure that.
“Legal aid is paid directly to lawyers to represent people accused of serious crimes to help ensure a jury can reach an appropriate verdict in a timely manner.
“Trials involving complex details of documentary evidence over many years make it inevitable that substantial fees and outlays will be incurred, but we work with legal teams to mitigate costs as effectively as possible.”
● First Minister Humza yousaf and Justice Secretary Angela Constance will meet Emma’s mum Margaret next week, it was confirmed last night.
Margaret called for a public inquiry into the police probe into Emma’s death, which yousaf has said is “not off the table”.
Constance said: “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.”