Independent inquiry into 2005 murder of Emma Caldwell announced

Scottish government says judge-led public inquiry will look at ‘serious failings’ of police investigation, as killer appeals conviction

An independent judge-led public inquiry will be held into how police handled the investigation into Emma Caldwell’s murder, the Scottish government has announced. The announcement came as Scotland’s most senior law officer said she believes there was sufficient evidence in 2008 to prosecute Caldwell’s killer, who was convicted only last week.

Caldwell’s mother, Margaret, has campaigned tirelessly for nearly two decades to bring her daughter’s murderer to justice. She listened from the public gallery as Scotland’s justice secretary, Angela Constance, told MSPs on Thursday afternoon: “There can be no doubt of the serious failings that brought a grieving family to fight for justice.”