A detective who charged one of four Turks accused of the murder of Emma Caldwell has revealed early doubts over their guilt. Mick McCarron, then a family liaison officer, informed Emma's parents Margaret and William of the arrests but later suspected something was amiss after interviewing a suspect.
The charges against the four men were dropped in 2008 when translations of secret recordings claiming they discussed Emma's murder were discredited. A new probe in 2015 focused on Iain Packer, named by the Sunday Mail. Packer was convicted in 2024 of Emma's murder and the rape and sexual assault of 22 other women, receiving a life sentence.
Retired Detective's Concerns
Now retired as a Detective Sergeant, McCarron shares his concerns in the Amazon Prime documentary 'Did you kill Emma?'. He recalls telling Emma's family about the arrests: 'It was obviously a huge day for Emma's mum and dad Margaret and Willie. We had detained and arrested and charged four suspects for their daughter's murder. Willie was chuffed as you would be. He had waited long enough. But I had an inclination that something wasn't right.'
Emma went missing from a Glasgow hostel in April 2005; her body was found in woods near Biggar, Lanarkshire, the following month. McCarron also had to inform the family that Emma had been involved in prostitution to feed her heroin addiction and that she had been murdered.
Doubts During Interview
During an interview with one of the Turkish suspects, McCarron began doubting their involvement. Police had discovered a large number of men's names in Emma's phone contacts, including a Turkish man who had last called her. The call was traced near a Turkish community centre in Glasgow. Detectives had also identified Packer as a suspect after a sex worker revealed he had taken her to the same remote spot where Emma's body was found.
The investigation into Emma's murder was codenamed Operation Grail. However, McCarron discovered a separate inquiry, Operation Guard, was ongoing at another police station. A search of the community centre found a duvet cover with Emma's blood on it. McCarron said: 'During the course of the investigation it became apparent to me that something funny was going on. We found there was another inquiry working separate to our investigation. Something I had never known before and never heard of since.'
McCarron was told at a briefing that Operation Guard focused on the four Turks. He was tasked with interviewing the last man to call Emma. He played secret recordings and read a transcript to the suspect. 'On the face of it it looked pretty good evidence. I asked if he was involved in Emma's murder and he denies it. I expected him to be shocked, stunned maybe even admit to the murder. The opposite was the case he was as calm as anything. He just said I don't know what you are talking about. He was so convincing. I was doubting the authenticity of the translations.'
When McCarron raised concerns with senior officers, he was told the translations were done by experts. He was instructed to charge the suspect, who replied: 'You have made a big mistake. It will come out in the wash.'
Unanswered Questions
By 2010, McCarron had been transferred and hadn't spoken to the Caldwell family for years. He received a message that Willie Caldwell was unwell and wanted to see him. 'He wanted me to find out what happened to Emma. I made arrangements for two Procurator Fiscals from the Homicide Unit to go and visit Willie on his death bed the following day. My understanding from that meeting was that Willie was left in no doubt that the Turks did not kill Emma. He died a few days after that meeting and did not find out who killed his daughter.'
McCarron concluded: 'My biggest issue with this whole sorry scenario is this. If in 2010 when Willie was told that people in authority were saying that the Turks did not do it what in earth did they do about it. The answer is not a thing. It is absolutely appalling. Had they done so we would have found out that Iain Packer murdered Emma a lot quicker than we did.'
A public inquiry into Emma's murder has begun and is due to hear evidence later this year. Deputy Chief Constable Alan Speirs of Police Scotland said: 'Emma Caldwell's family have shown incredible courage and determination following her murder in 2005 and we are absolutely committed to supporting the Inquiry and getting her loved ones the answers they deserve.'
'Did you kill Emma?' launches on Prime Video on Sunday 14th June.
