Caldwell murder trial told of final call she received before her death

The last voice call received by Emma Caldwell was from a Turkish man named in the special defence of a man accused of her murder, a court has heard.

Iain Packer, 50, is on trial at the High Court in Glasgow accused of murdering Miss Caldwell, 27, on April 5, 2005, and faces 46 charges involving a number of women including rape as well as abduction and assault.

He denies all the charges against him, and has lodged special defences of incrimination, consent, defence of another and self-defence.

Evita O’Malley, a higher analyst from Police Scotland, examined phone records, financial records, and cell data relating to the investigation.

Two numbers used by Packer were examined, a landline and a mobile, and three numbers for Miss Caldwell but only one was focused on, the court heard.

Advocate depute Richard Goddard said: “You found no contact between these numbers and numbers used by Iain Packer?”

Ms O’Malley agreed.

The number used by Miss Caldwell last made an outgoing call on 9.59pm on April 2, 2005.

The last voice call she received was from a Turkish man, named in Packer’s special defence, on April 4 2005 at 11.20pm, for one minute and 16 seconds, the court heard.

Ms O’Malley said: “Her lack of outgoing contact could have been because she had no credit.”

The report said that between March 16 and May 8 2005, there were 1,509 cell connections registered to Packer mostly in Glasgow but also in Edinburgh, Inverness, Northern Ireland and England.

Records showed Packer’s phone most frequently connected to a cell close to his home but secondly to Glasgow Green, the court heard.

On March 10 2005, Packer’s phone number made 60 voice calls to saunas, and on April 4 2005, his phone was last registered at 5.13pm, according to the report.

Defending, Ronnie Renucci KC said the report showed Packer routinely switched his phone off in the evening.

On April 4 2005, Packer had contact or attempted contact with 29 other numbers including a sauna, his father, and Glasgow Concert Hall, and the last call was received at 5.13pm.

Mr Renucci said: “No contact was made between these numbers and any of the three numbers attributed to Emma Caldwell.

“The advocate depute has asked you about the calls in relation to Packer and calls that were made. There were no calls after a certain time. The various reasons for that were he could be asleep, it could be turned off or the phone could not be used.

“I think the advocate depute has suggested that after a certain time on April 4 that Packer’s phone didn’t register anything and hadn’t triggered any cell sites. What you’re looking for sometimes is patterns and you will make comment on patterns of usage in your report.

“You record Packer’s phone was not heavily used in the evening/night time.

“For 63 days, there were 12 days when the phone was not used after 5pm, from March 6 2005 to May 8 2005.

“There were three days when the handset was not used after 6pm, and eight days when the phone was not used after 7pm, and 14 days when it was not used after 8pm.”

A forensic review carried out to attempt to find more DNA was unsuccessful, the court later heard.

Amanda Pirie, from the Forensic Science Department at the Scottish Police Authority, led a review in 2022 but said: “We found nothing to support or refute any version of events.”

She said if the investigation had been contemporaneous it would still “present a challenge” due to the circumstances of the case due in part to a lack of clothing on Miss Caldwell’s body or at the scene.

Ms Pirie examined a cable found around Miss Caldwell’s neck, a hair clip, and a ring, but found no traces of DNA at all on the objects.

Traces of DNA were found on swabs on Miss Caldwell’s genitals and mouth, however not enough to identify an individual, the court heard.

Tests were carried out on three used condoms found near Limefield Woods, as well as cigarette ends and condom wrappers, but they did not match Packer, Miss Caldwell or “the four named men” mentioned in the special defence, the court heard.

Prosecutor Mr Goddard said: “A body was found after 33 days in exposed area in a wet ditch, there are all factors which will affect DNA. Is that correct?”

Ms Pirie said: “Yes that’s correct.”

Packer’s van was examined which revealed DNA profiles for three “unknown men”, however Ms Pirie said no female DNA was found.

Ms Pirie said the tests “do not help to advance if Emma Caldwell had sexual intercourse with anyone, or who she may have had physical contact with, prior to her death”, the court heard.

A report said Miss Caldwell’s clothing had never been found, and no clothing or footwear belonging to Packer were tested in 2005.

Mr Goddard said: “So far as DNA is concerned, the findings are neutral.”

Ms Pirie said: “Yes that’s correct.”

The trial continues in front of Judge Lord Beckett.