A MAN has appeared in court charged with murder following the death of Erskine woman Emma Caldwell almost 17 years ago.

Iain Packer, 49, also faces numerous other charges, including rape, indecent assault and abduction.

He appeared in private at Glasgow Sheriff Court yesterday.

Packer, of Airdrie, did not enter a plea and was remanded in custody after being committed for further examination.

Ms Caldwell was last seen in London Road, Glasgow, between 12.30am and 1.30am on April 5, 2005, and was reported missing by her family five days later.

The body of the 27-year-old sex worker was discovered in woods at Roberton, near Biggar, South Lanarkshire, on May 8 that year.