The first victim of killer Iain Packer says she has suffered more waiting for justice than she did during his sex attack.
Magdalene Robertson was raped aged 15 by Packer, who went on to murder Emma Caldwell. Magdalene says lengthy delays with an independent police probe into his case has ‘put her through more’ than the original abuse.
The investigation officially announced by the Crown Office in March 2024 is due to look at potential criminality by Strathclyde Police officers involved in the original 2005 murder inquiry into the death of Emma.
However Magdalene says she was first told in 2019 by the Crown Office that there would be an investigation into alleged police criminality. And she has been waiting ever since for an outcome.
View 4 ImagesEmma Caldwell(Image: PA)
Magdalene, who is now in her 50’s, said: “The duration of the abuse from Packer was short compared to the years from the police and Crown.
“It’s definitely put me through a lot more.
“I got an email from the Crown Office that they’re looking into possible criminal activity with senior police. And that was in 2019.
“So I’ve asked them about that. They just won’t answer the question, where is this?”
In February the Crown Office said they had been unable to find a force in England or Wales able to carry out the probe because of pressure on policing resources
The investigation by an outside force would be separate from the public inquiry into the case which began in December.
Magdalene says she has lost faith with both the police and Crown Office over the delays.
She added:” The police have duty of care prescribed under the law, so it’s statutory. And they failed, and that’s punishable by law.
“But also the Crown has statutory duties under the law prescribed, so they can’t come out of that. Again, they’ve failed there.
“For me, there’s no trust within the police or the Crown. That’s how I feel about it.
“They don’t really care, they’re not interested. It is why we need somebody independent to look at this.”
View 4 ImagesIain Packer(Image: PA)
Packer is serving life for the murder of Emma and the rape and sexual assault of 22 other women including Magdalene.
She was indecently assaulted by Packer at 14 and raped by him when 15 in 1990 at a property in the Garrowhill area of Glasgow.
Magdalene also believes Packer’s reign of terror extended to holiday hotspots abroad including the US and Spain.
Last month we reported how she contacted the FBI in America with her concerns and asked it to investigate his activities there.
Magdalene gave up her right to anonymity two years ago when giving evidence to a Scottish Parliament justice committee about her experience of making a complaint against the police.
She believes she wasn’t Packer’s first victim and that there were others even younger than her. She also believes his victims could number in the hundreds.
Emma was one of seven women involved in prostitution who were murdered between 1991 and 2005 while working in Glasgow.
Her body was found in Limefield Woods, near Biggar in Lanarkshire, in 2005 after she had been reported missing.
Magdalene was speaking out in the latest episode of the Clyde1 podcast Beware Book, about the seven murders.
Packer was overlooked as a prime suspect in the original probe even though he admitted taking Emma and other women to Limefield Woods for sex.
Instead senior cops focused on four Turks who were charged with Emma’s murder in 2007 but had the charges dropped the following year.
View 4 ImagesThe rural, country area near Rigside where Emma Caldwell’s body was found(Image: Daily Record)
Packer was named as “the forgotten suspect” in our sister paper the Sunday Mail in 2015 and a fresh probe began, leading to his 2022 arrest.
A public inquiry into the original probe by Strathclyde Police has begun and is due to hear evidence later this year.
It will look at the length of time it too for justice to be served and any failings in police procedures.
A Crown Office spokesperson said:”“The Lord Advocate instructed that there should be an independent investigation into potential criminality by police officers in this case. This has not been possible at present due to pressures on UK-wide policing resources. Discussions are ongoing to explore options for this being taken forward.
“Our thoughts remain with Emma’s family and all those who suffered harm at the hands of Iain Packer. COPFS fully supports the independent Public Inquiry and will cooperate appropriately with the Chair and Inquiry team to help deliver answers.”
Police Scotland’s Deputy Chief Constable Alan Speirs said: “Emma Caldwell’s family have shown incredible courage and determination following her murder in 2005 and we are absolutely committed to supporting the Inquiry and getting her loved ones the answers they deserve.”
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* The latest episode of Beware Book is available on the Rayo app, Apple, Amazon Music and Spotify.