Emma Caldwell: I was told not to detain Iain Packer

A retired detective has told how he was instructed not to detain Iain Packer after the murder of Emma Caldwell.

Retired Det Con Stuart Hall took a statement from Packer for the first time on 22 June 2005, just weeks after Emma's body was discovered.

Packer initially maintained that he did not know Emma and did not use prostitutes, however, several girls had picked him out of photographs and Stuart Hall grew to believe that Packer was lying.

He asked a senior investigating officer, Willie Johnston, if he could detain Packer, but he says he was told no.

Mr Johnston left the force in 2006. He declined to provide a comment to the BBC, beyond his hopes "that the forthcoming trial finally provides the answers the deceased's family have deserved for so long".

Packer has been found guilty of Emma Caldwell's murder and a string of sexual offences against multiple women.

28 February 2024