Scotland’s Justice Secretary has announced an independent judge-led statutory public inquiry will be held to examine the police response to the murder of Emma Caldwell almost 20 years ago.
The announcement comes after both Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf and his Justice Secretary Angela Constance met with the murdered woman’s mother earlier this week.
Miss Caldwell was killed by serial rapist Iain Packer in 2005 – but while he was interviewed by police officers the month after her body was found in May that year, it was only last week he was convicted of her murder, along with a series of rapes and other offences.
Police Scotland has already apologised to the family of Miss Caldwell and his other victims, saying they were “let down” by policing in 2005.
Announcing the inquiry at Holyrood, Scotland’s Justice Secretary Angela Constance told MSPs what Emma Caldwell’s mother Margaret said to her.
She said Mrs Caldwell told her: “My daughter Emma and the many victims who so courageously spoke up deserve nothing less than a robust, independent public inquiry and a judge who will act without fear or favour.
“There are those who say that such inquiries take too long. My family have struggled for 19 years to get justice and we will wait however long it takes to see the truth, and will accept nothing less.”
Packer, 51, was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 36 years at the High Court in Glasgow last week after being found guilty of murdering the 27-year-old in 2005, as well as 11 rapes and 21 other charges, including sexual assaults, against other women.
