Iain Packer was convicted of Emma Caldwell's murder in 2024, nearly two decades after the 27-year-old was killed in 2005. Former detectives involved in the initial investigation have stated their suspicions regarding Packer were ignored by superiors. Two detectives from Operation Grail confirmed that they and the vast majority of their colleagues in 2005 were certain of Iain Packer's guilt.
According to The Independent - UK News, Stuart Hall described a colleague asking him what he thought about the case, with Hall responding that he was 100% certain it was Packer. Former detective Davie Barr was convinced that Iain Packer was the killer. Barr phoned his senior investigating officer at home to tell him he was convinced Iain Packer was the killer, but was told 'he'll never be accused'.
I kid you not, every day in life in that incident room we would speak about it. How can it not be him?
According to The Independent - UK News, Davie Barr described how detectives were told to 'just get on with it' despite their suspicions. Packer told Davie Barr that he had brought Emma Caldwell to Limefield Woods, where her body was later found. According to The Independent - UK News, Davie Barr described daily conversations in the incident room about how it could not be anyone but Packer.
The failure to prosecute Packer earlier had broader consequences. According to The Independent - UK News, Davie Barr described how other people suffered and other girls were sexually assaulted in the years that Iain Packer was free. According to The Independent - UK News, Davie Barr described this as unacceptable and said other people should be ashamed of their actions.
The really pathetic thing is that other people suffered, other girls were sexually assaulted, in the years that he’s been free, which is unacceptable.
According to The Independent - UK News, Davie Barr described that if you gathered every single officer who worked in Operation Grail, there was only one person that didn't think Iain Packer was responsible, and that was the senior investigating officer, who was getting directions from elsewhere. It remains unclear who specifically gave directions to the senior investigating officer to ignore suspicions about Iain Packer, or what specific actions or decisions by superiors led to this outcome. During the initial investigation, a group of Turkish men were arrested in connection with Emma Caldwell's murder in 2007.
The case against the Turkish men arrested in 2007 subsequently collapsed. The reasons why the Turkish men were arrested in 2007, and what evidence led to the collapse of the case against them, have not been publicly detailed. The identity and current status of the senior investigating officer who allegedly ignored the detectives' suspicions also remains unknown.
Other people should be ashamed of their actions, for what they did.
This case has gained renewed attention through The Beware Book podcast, which examines the deaths of eight women during the period, four of which remain unsolved. The Beware Book 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. How many other sexual assaults Iain Packer committed during the years he remained free, and whether any were reported or investigated, has not been confirmed.
I can’t speak for everybody, but I’m pretty sure if you gathered every single officer who worked in Operation Grail, there was only one person that didn’t think Iain Packer was responsible, and that was the SIO (senior investigating officer), who was getting directions from elsewhere.
You know, we were told, it’s not him, just got on with it.
Later on in my service, I think I’d have questioned things a lot more. It wouldn’t have made any difference.
There was a colleague coming down the stairs and he says well, what would you think? Yeah, I said. It was him. 100%, I’m certain it’s him.