More than 13 years after Emma Caldwell’s murder, detectives report suspect to prosecutors

POLICE investigating the murder of Emma Caldwell more than 13 years ago have named a suspect in a report to prosecutors.

Detective Chief Superintendent David McLaren delivered the file to the Crown Office on Friday – almost three years to the day since police were ordered to reopen their investigation into Emma’s death.

The new inquiry, codenamed Operation Bynum, was ordered after newspaper reports claimed officers in charge of the original inquiry had failed to pursue a man considered a potential suspect at the time.

During the last of a series of police interviews, the man had taken officers to isolated woodland in South Lanarkshire where Emma’s body was found. The man, now 44, admitted taking her there at least several times before but was never interviewed again.

The new inquiry team believe they have made significant progress since Lord Advocate Frank Mulholland ordered the murder be reinvestigated in June 2015.

Their report will now be considered by leading prosecutors at the Crown Office, who will advise detectives on the next steps.

Detective Chief Superintendent McLaren said: “The Lord Advocate instructed a full review of the Emma Caldwell murder inquiry in 2015 and since then a dedicated team of detectives has undertaken a significant amount of work re-investigating the case.

“This week we have submitted an Advice and Guidance Report to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service summarising the previous investigation into Emma’s death and also presenting the findings, so far, of the re-investigation.

“We have asked the COPFS to consider this detailed report and give direction on what further action should be taken.

“I would like to stress though that the case remains open and detectives continue to investigate Emma’s murder. I would also urge anyone with information about the case to please come forward and tell police.”

Emma, 27, from Erskine, Renfrewshire, went missing after leaving the hostel where she lived on Glasgow’s south side in April 2005. Her body was found in woods at Roberton, Lanarkshire, several weeks later.

The Operation Bynum team have interviewed more than 170 persons of interest in the reopened investigation.

Officers have also been investigating a series of serious sex assaults linked to the inquiry, including at least one other at Roberton. They also recovered items of women’s clothing following a fingertip search of the woodland.

Four men, all Turkish nationals, were charged with Emma’s murder in 2007 but the case against them collapsed.

The Caldwell family have never given up hope her killer will be brought to justice. On Monday, her mother Margaret visited the inquiry team’s incident room to discuss the findings of the new investigation with Det Chief Superintendent McLaren as his team finalised their report.

Mrs Caldwell, who was accompanied by the family’s lawyer Aamer Anwar, hopes Lord Advocate James Wolffe will now pursue the case.

She said: “It has been more than 13 years since my daughter was murdered and three years since the police were ordered to reopen their investigation.

“Since Emma’s death, I have lost my husband William, who died without seeing justice for our daughter and have been forced to endure years of uncertainty.

“We have waited long enough to see justice. I hope the Lord Advocate can understand that.”

The Crown Office said: “We have received a request from Police Scotland for advice and direction concerning the ongoing investigation into the murder of Emma Caldwell.

“As this remains a live investigation, it would not be appropriate to comment further at this time.”