Emma Caldwell murder trial hears accused thoroughly cleaned van

A former neighbour of the man accused of killing Emma Caldwell has told a court she saw him "thoroughly" cleaning his work van around the time she died.

Elayne McAllister said she recalled joking to Iain Packer that he was doing such a "good job" that she would get him to do her kitchen next.

On another occasion she said he seemed "unsettled" when talking about the van being forensically examined.

Mr Packer denies killing Ms Caldwell and 46 charges against 27 other women.

He is also facing charges relating to three men and a teenage boy.

He is accused of killing 27-year-old Miss Caldwell at Limefield Woods in Biggar, South Lanarkshire on 5 April 2005.

Ms McAllister, 55, told the High Court in Glasgow how she had previously lived beside 51-year-old Mr Packer in East Kilbride, Lanarkshire.

Photographs of the sign-fitter's work van - which she said was "almost always dirty and untidy" - were shown to the jurors.

Prosecutor Richard Goddard KC asked the witness about an occasion she is said to have seen Mr Packer clean the van.

Ms McAllister said: "The van was totally empty. The tools were out...he was using soapy water, bleach, cleaning agents, giving it a good scrub."

She said she had spoken to him, saying: "Something along the lines of that he was doing a good job and that did he want to do my kitchen when he was finished?"

She said it was April/May time as the weather was dry and confirmed that it was the first time she had seen Mr Packer thoroughly cleaning his vehicle.

Ms McAllister said that at some stage Mr Packer also told her the van had been "taken away for forensic examination".

When asked what his manner was like, she replied: "Matter of fact. He appeared a bit nervous. He kind of fidgeted."

Mr Goddard referred her to a police statement she gave in 2020 in which she said Mr Packer was "unsettled, nervous, fidgety and hopping from foot to foot."

In cross examination, Packer's KC Ronnie Renucci put to the witness that she had made no mention to police of any van cleaning being in April/May time.

Miss McAllister said: "It felt like Easter time because of the weather. It was 19 years ago."

The defence advocate suggested the woman had never seen Mr Packer clean his van, but she denied that.

Mr Packer denies strangling Ms Caldwell in the remote woods near Biggar in 2005 and concealing her body.

The murder charge alleges he assaulted Ms Caldwell by restraining her, grabbing her wrists and strangling her with his hands and a cable.

He is then said to have dumped her naked body in the woods as well as disposing of her clothes, phone and other personal belongings.

He is also alleged to have cleaned a car to "avoid detection, arrest and prosecution".

The trial, before judge Lord Beckett, continues.