EMMA'S FAMILY WELCOME 'FORMIDABLE' PUBLIC INQUIRY JUDGE

THE family of a woman murdered by a serial rapist in a two-decade reign of terror has welcomed news that a “respected and formidable” judge will lead the inquiry into her death.

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Emma Caldwell was killed in 2005 but it was not until 19 years later that Iain Packer was finally convicted and jailed for life.

During that time, despite being the main suspect, police incompetence, and some say, corruption, meant he was free to walk the streets of Scotland and continue targeting vulnerable women. One retired detective revealed that during the murder hunt senior officers told him and his colleagues not to pursue Packer, 53, but instead focus on building a case against four innocent Turkish men.

Yesterday, it was announced that Lord John Scott KC has been appointed to head an investigation into the background to the case.

Speaking outside Holyrood after the news was confirmed, Ms Caldwell's mother told of her delight.

Margaret Caldwell said: "I am happy with this decision. I am hoping things will get going now.

"We have waited a long long time and there is no closure as far as I am concerned.

"I just have to live with everything." The decision follows months of wrangling over who would take on the role.

Central to this was the Caldwell family's fear that neither the police nor the Crown Office could be "trusted to investigate themselves or their former superiors".

But news that Lord Scott will be heading the probe has delighted both them and their lawyer.

Speaking afterwards, Aamer Anwar said he was confident that the judge would act without "fear or favour"." He went on: "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 in 2024 and was found guilty of 33 charges involving 22 women, including Emma's murder and 11 counts of rape."

Accountability