Caldwell murder accused tells trial: ‘It wasn’t me who killed her’
Iain Packer, 51, denies a total of 36 charges involving multiple women.
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The man accused of murdering sex worker Emma Caldwell has told a court: “It wasn’t me who killed her.”
Iain Packer, 51, is on trial accused of murdering Miss Caldwell, 27, who went missing in Glasgow on April 4 2005 and whose body was found in Limefield Woods near Roberton, South Lanarkshire, the following month.
He faces a total of 36 charges involving offences against multiple women, which he denies.
Giving evidence for the third day at the High Court in Glasgow on Thursday, he said: “It wasn’t me who killed her. It wasn’t me. I didn’t do anything to her.”
He insisted he had never seen the specific area of the woods where Miss Caldwell’s body was found before a jury visit to the scene during his trial.
Packer said: “The first time I was there where the body was found was when I was taken there with court.”
He said he took sex workers from Glasgow to Limefield Woods for “general chitchat”, and denied sending texts to another woman saying he had a “choking fetish”.
Prosecutor Richard Goddard KC asked him: “Can you remember the number of women who say you were violent in this particular area?”
Packer said: “No idea.”
Mr Goddard said: “Five women gave statements.”
Packer was asked where he was on April 4, 2005.
He said: “I couldn’t tell you, I was either at home or I was working. I could have been walking the dogs, quite possibly. My job wasn’t 9-5, I had to do after hours as the shops were closed.
“I could have been in Aberdeen or Inverness.
“I was never told to provide details of where I was working, unfortunately for me.”
Mr Goddard said: “More bad luck on top of all these people saying you did these things to them.”
The court heard soil samples from the site were a “97% match” with samples taken from Packer’s van, but he did not have an explanation.
Packer told the court he had cable in his van because of his job, saying: “There’s cable in any sign erector’s van.”
When he was shown a picture of the cable used to strangle Miss Caldwell, Packer said: “I’ve never seen that before in my life.”
He said: “It’s twin and earth that I would use.”
Under cross-examination by defence advocate Ronnie Renucci KC, Packer claimed he was “certain” he took Miss Caldwell to the forest twice, and said police could have checked his work records in 2005.
Mr Renucci said: “When you went on a 40-mile journey out of Glasgow, was that all about sex?”
Packer said: “No.”
He said he would “drive about” and have “general chitchat” with the women.
Mr Renucci said: “The advocate depute said you changed your story seven times.”
Packer said: “That’s right.”
Mr Renucci said: “Have you ever changed your story about Emma Caldwell’s murder?”
Packer said: “Never.”
The trial continues, in front of judge Lord Beckett.