Man on trial over 2005 Emma Caldwell murder

A man's gone on trial charged with murdering a woman and disposing of her body almost 20 years ago. Iain Packer is accused of assaulting Emma Caldwell with intent to rape and killing the 27 year-old on April 5 2005 in Limefield Woods in Biggar, South Lanarkshire.

The murder allegation claims he assaulted Miss Caldwell by restraining her, grabbing her wrists and strangling her with his hands and a cable.

Packer is then said to have dumped her body at the woods as well as got rid of her clothes, phone and other personal belongings. He is further claimed to have cleaned a car.

This was all allegedly done to "conceal and destroy evidence" as well as to "avoid detection, arrest and prosecution".

The 51 year-old - via his KC Ronnie Renucci - has pleaded not guilty to a total of 46 charges he faces at the trial at the High Court in Glasgow.

Packer has incriminated four other named individuals that, if the murder was committed, it was carried out by them.

The 46 charges span between 1990 and 2016 allegedly occurring in Glasgow, Lanarkshire and East Renfrewshire.

Among these accusations are allegations of rape, indecent and sexual assault, as well as abduction involving a series of other women.

Packer has lodged special defences of consent for a number of these.

Some of the females mentioned have since passed away.

Several of the other crimes listed on the indictment are also said to have occurred at Limefield Woods.

Richard Goddard KC is leading the prosecution in the trial - Lord Beckett is the presiding judge.

The court clerk took around 25 minutes to read the lengthy indictment to jurors.

Lord Beckett went on to state that it was difficult to predict how long the trial would last.

The judge: “The minimum is six weeks heading into a seventh.

“That would take us into early March.”

He added it could spill into April, but thought that was unlikely.

The trial continues.

Hear the latest news on Clyde 1 on FM, DAB, smart speaker or the Rayo app.