Emma Caldwell unlikely to have been her killer’s first victim, says ex-detective

The murder of Emma Caldwell was likely not the first killing carried out by Iain Packer, the man convicted 19 years after her death, according to a former detective.

Retired detective constable Stuart Hall, who was involved in the initial investigation into the murder, has told a podcast he believes “there’s going to be more found out in the future” regarding Packer’s offending.

Ms Caldwell, 27, was killed in 2005 but it was not until 2024 that Packer was convicted of her murder, along with a string of sexual offences against other women.

Police had questioned Packer in the weeks after the death of Ms Caldwell, but instead a group of Turkish men were charged in relation to her death in 2007. The case against them later collapsed.

Mr Hall spoke to a podcast series which is examining the deaths of a number of women involved in prostitution around Glasgow in the 1990s and early 2000s.

The Beware Book podcast examines the deaths of eight women during the period, four of which remain unsolved.

The Clyde 1 podcast takes its name from a journal which was used by women involved in prostitution to warn each other about potentially dangerous or suspicious clients.

Mr Hall was asked about the fact that Packer’s offending continued for years after Ms Caldwell’s murder, and whether the full extent of his crimes has come to light.

He said: “No – short answer. I think there’s a lot more to be found out about Iain Packer.

“Personally, I don’t think it was his first murder.

“I think there’s going to be more found out in the future. I’d love to be involved in something to do with that, but I think there’s far more to it.

“There’s a pattern of behaviour here. As they discovered during the trial, which is now common knowledge, he did the same thing to several girls.

“Although Emma was the only one we know of at this time who was murdered. I see no reason for there not to be more.”

Mr Hall said Packer’s history of violence against women had emerged in court.

He continued: “That just seems to be who he is, how he deals with life and women.”

Packer was jailed for life with a minimum term of 36 years after he was found guilty of Ms Caldwell’s murder.

Her body was found as a remote location in Limefield Woods in South Lanarkshire.

Other former detectives have previously told the podcast about their certainty of Packer’s guilt.

However they said their suspicions were dismissed by superiors, with one being told Packer “will never be accused”.

A public inquiry, chaired by Lord Scott KC, is due to examine the police investigation into the murder.

Police Scotland Deputy Chief Constable Alan Speirs said: “Emma Caldwell’s family have shown incredible courage and determination following her murder in 2005 and we are absolutely committed to supporting the inquiry and getting her loved ones the answers they deserve.”