By our crime reporter.
On the anniversary of Emma’s disappearance, Tuesday 4 April 2006, detectives issued CCTV footage and CCTV stills of vehicles and people seen in the Broomielaw area of Glasgow around the time that she disappeared.
The body of 27 year old Emma was discovered in a wooded area near to Roberton, near Biggar around 1300 hours on Sunday 8 May 2005. She had previously been reported missing and was last seen leaving a hostel in Inglefield Street, Govanhill around 2300 hours on Monday 4 April 2005.
One of the stills shows a female outside the Riverboat Casino in Broomielaw. She had just crossed over Broomielaw from its junction with Robertson Street. She then crosses back over Broomielaw and is seen to enter a silver coloured Skoda Felecia motor car. (trade colour is “Diamond Silver Metallic”). This vehicle has a sun roof with colour coded bumper and mirrors, it also had the sun visor down on the drivers side. This vehicle was manufactured between September 1996 and April 1998.
At this time, a red car, believed to be a Vauxhall Astra, manufactured between 1992 to 1996, appears to be parked at the kerb. The CCTV footage is timed at 2305 hours.
Over the past year, detectives have traced every owner of silver Skoda Felecia cars in Scotland that fit the criteria. They have interviewed literally hundreds of motorists but have been unable to track down the driver of this particular vehicle. Their enquiries have extended south of the border and officers from other forces have assisted in this search.
As the silver Skoda pulled up across from the Casino, a red car had to pull out quickly and overtake the Skoda as it stopped abruptly without indicating. The make of this vehicle has not been established. Police are anxious to trace the driver of this car. (red car in CCTV still).
A man is shown walking past the silver skoda when it stopped. He is on the north footpath and is headed towards the junction of Broomielaw and Oswald Street. This man was wearing light coloured trousers with a dark top under a light coloured jacket. (CCTV still showing man).
“This is one line of enquiry that has been undertaken by the investigating team. I am unable to say, with any authority, that the person who entered the car was Emma however I do know that she could have been in Broomielaw at that time. Although she was last seen around 2300 hrs and the footage is taken at 2305 hrs, she may have accessed transport from Inglefield Street to Broomielaw. Extensive attempts to enhance the image have been unsuccessful.
“The person in the photographs was standing outside the Casino and started to cross the road as the silver car came into view. I believe it was a woman as a handbag is seen over her shoulder. She appears to speak to the driver before getting into the vehicle.
“I would urge prostitutes who recognise this car or may have clients that drive this type of vehicle to get in touch.
“I would stress the importance of tracing this car and eliminating the driver. He or she may be able to provide vital information that would move this enquiry forward. I am also anxious to trace the owner/driver of the red car that was parked up on the pavement immediately across from the casino. This person may have noticed something that could be relevant to the investigation. The driver may have been picking a friend or relative up from work and I would urge any person who remembers being in that area around 2300 hours or shortly after on the night of Monday 4 April 2005 to come forward.
“The man shown in the CCTV still walked past the Skoda as the female was getting into the passenger seat. He may have seen something and I again, urge that person to contact the police, as he may have information which could be of assistance in the enquiry.
“This part of the investigation has involved us tracing and interviewing all owners of Skoda Felicias that fit this criteria in the United Kingdom. That work has taken a considerable period of time to complete and as of this moment we have no owner/driver who has admitted being in Broomielaw that night.”
I urge any person with information concerning any of the above, or indeed has any knowledge of the disappearance or subsequent murder of Emma is asked to contact the Incident Room at Cathcart Police Office on telephone number 0141 532 4943. Alternatively telephone Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where anonymity can be maintained.
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