Police ScotlandThe family of murder victim Emma Caldwell will meet First Minister John Swinney next week to voice their concerns about an independent public inquiry into the case.
Serial sex offender Iain Packer, 51, was jailed for life last year after being found guilty of strangling the 27-year-old in 2005.
The Scottish government later announced an inquiry into the police handling of the investigation.
But lawyer Aamer Anwar said there had been “no progress” in meeting the family’s request for the appointment of a judge from outside Scotland.
He said: “The scale of the crimes and the failures are so catastrophic that only an independent judge outside of the Scottish justice system would suffice.”
Packer was interviewed by detectives a month after the sex worker’s body was found in remote woods in South Lanarkshire on 8 May 2005 – five weeks after she was last seen in Glasgow city centre.
But it took 19 years to bring him to justice.
The case was one of Scotland’s most high-profile unsolved murders until a Disclosure investigation paved the way for Packer’s arrest.
In February last year he was convicted of offences against a total of 22 women, including 11 rapes.
Packer was ordered to serve at least 36 years in prison – the second longest sentence ever handed down by a Scottish court.
After the verdict, Police Scotland apologised for how the original inquiry was handled.
The force also said it had let down Emma and other victims.
In a statement to the Scottish Parliament last March, Justice Secretary Angela Constance confirmed that a judge-led inquiry would take place.
Ms Constance said she recognised that a statutory public inquiry was a “very significant undertaking”.
But she told MSPs: “Nonetheless given the gravity of this case, the length of time that it took for justice to be served, the horrific extent of the sexual violence suffered by the victims and survivors and the suffering endured by their families, the case for holding a public inquiry is clear and compelling.”
But since then, Mr Anwar said the family had been left with “no reassurance” and feared “a deliberate attempt to impose a Scottish judge in the interim”.
“The scale of the crimes and the failures are so catastrophic that only an independent judge outside of the Scottish justice system would suffice,” a statement on behalf of the family said.
The lawyer previously described the handling of the murder investigation as “the worst scandal to ever hit the Scottish legal system”.
He said the then Strathclyde Police and Police Scotland “brought shame on their uniform” and added: “The individuals who are responsible must now face justice.”
Emma’s mother Margaret and other relatives will be accompanied by Mr Anwar when they meet the first minister and Constance on Tuesday.
Ahead of the talks, a Scottish government spokesperson said: “Our thoughts remain with Emma’s family for the terrible loss, pain and grief they have faced for many years.
“As announced in March, an independent, judge-led, statutory public inquiry will take place into the investigation of Emma’s murder in 2005.
“The first minister and justice secretary are grateful for the opportunity to meet with the family next week to discuss further.”
