A woman killed by a serial rapist was unlikely to be his first victim, an expert has claimed.
Emma Caldwell, 27, was killed in 2005, but it was not until 2024 that Iain Packer was convicted of her murder, along with a string of sexual offences against other women.
Stuart Hall, a retired detective constable who was involved in the initial murder investigation, told a podcast he believed Packer carried out further offences.
Asked whether the full extent of his crimes had come to light, he said: “No – short answer. I think there’s a lot more to be found out about Iain Packer.
“Personally, I don’t think it was his first murder. I think there’s going to be more found out in the future. I’d love to be involved in something to do with that, but I think there’s far more to it.”
Police questioned Packer in the weeks after Ms Caldwell’s murder, but in 2007, a group of Turkish men were charged in relation to her death. The case against them later collapsed.
It took police 19 years to catch Iain Packer – Police Scotland
Mr Hall spoke to The Beware Book podcast, a series examining the deaths of eight women involved in prostitution around Glasgow in the 1990s and early 2000s. Four of the murders remain unsolved.
The 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.
“There’s a pattern of behaviour here. As they discovered during the trial, which is now common knowledge, he did the same thing to several girls,” Mr Hall added.
“Although Emma was the only one we know of at this time who was murdered. I see no reason for there not to be more.”
Mr Hall said Packer’s history of violence against women had emerged in court.
He added: “That just seems to be who he is, how he deals with life and women.”
Inquiry to examine police investigation
Packer was jailed for life with a minimum term of 36 years for Ms Caldwell’s murder.
Her body was found in a remote location in Limefield Woods in South Lanarkshire.
Other former detectives have previously told the podcast about their certainty of Packer’s guilt.
However, they said their suspicions were dismissed by superiors, with one being told Packer would “never be accused”.
A public inquiry, chaired by Lord Scott KC, will examine the police investigation.
Det Ch Constable Alan Speirs, of Police Scotland, 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.”