Independent review of murder investigation.
An independent, judge-led, statutory Public Inquiry will take
place into the investigation of Emma Caldwell’s murder in 2005,
Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs has announced.
In a statement to the Scottish Parliament, the Justice Secretary
told MSPs that it was time to apply fresh scrutiny to the case –
to understand what went wrong, to ensure lessons are learned for
the future and to provide answers to the victims and survivors
involved.
Further details will be set out once live legal proceedings in
the case have concluded and a chair of the Inquiry has been
appointed. Ministers will work alongside the Chair and Emma’s
family in setting and agreeing the terms of reference for the
Inquiry.
The decision to hold a Public Inquiry was reached after the First
Minister and Justice Secretary held discussions with Emma’s
family, including her mother Margaret Caldwell, on Tuesday this
week.
The Justice Secretary said:
“Margaret Caldwell and her family have waited far too long to get
justice for Emma. I have expressed directly to them on behalf of
the Scottish Government how deeply sorry we are for their loss,
and for the pain and grief they have had to endure.
“Nineteen years have elapsed between Emma’s murder and a
conviction, showing serious failings occurred in the
investigation. Given this, along with the gravity of this case,
the length of time that it took for justice to be served for so
many women and the horrific extent of the sexual violence
suffered by the victims and survivors, the case for holding a
public inquiry is overwhelming.
“The family want to have answers and deserve nothing less. The
First Minister made clear that we would give serious
consideration to the Caldwell family’s call for a Public Inquiry
after hearing directly from Margaret Caldwell and her family, and
pledged we would do so quickly. I am glad that now we have been
able to answer their call by announcing that we will set up a
Public Inquiry.”
