Glasgow, Scotland – A trial is underway for the murder of Emma Caldwell, a 27-year-old woman whose body was found in a remote part of South Lanarkshire five weeks after she disappeared. The accused, Iain Packer, denied the allegations, stating that the encounter he had with Caldwell months before her death was consensual, despite her expressing for him to stop.
Packer, who faces a total of 36 charges involving multiple women, denied strangling Caldwell and dumping her body in the woods, as well as an alleged rape in the early 1990s. The prosecution has withdrawn 10 charges against him. During the trial, Packer admitted to using sex workers since he was 18 years old and acknowledged using them frequently, but denied having an addiction.
The court heard how Packer approached a journalist to clear his name of any involvement in Caldwell’s killing, but later admitted to lying during the interview. Although he said he felt “a bit ashamed” of not stopping immediately when Caldwell asked during their encounter in 2004, Packer maintained his innocence regarding her murder.
The trial also revealed Packer’s admission of driving to a remote spot in Lanarkshire with women, including Caldwell, multiple times. He directed officers to the location where Caldwell’s body was found, but claimed to have used sex workers more often as he got older, clarifying that he was not responsible for Caldwell’s death.
The trial continues as Packer maintains his innocence and addresses the allegations of his involvement in Caldwell’s murder and other charges.