Amber Gibson: Woman allegedly sexually assaulted and murdered by brother ‘had accidents in line with being strangled’

A woman allegedly murdered by her brother died from compression of the neck and suffered “significant” accidents, a courtroom has been advised.

Warning: Some readers might discover the content material on this story distressing.

Gemma Louise Kemp, a guide forensic pathologist, performed a autopsy examination of 16-year-old Amber Gibson – who additionally glided by the surname Niven – after her physique was discovered at Hamilton’s Cadzow Glen on 28 November 2021.

Connor Gibson, 20, is alleged to have assaulted and sexually assaulted his teenage sister, eradicating her garments and repeatedly inflicting blunt power trauma to her head and physique on 26 November 2021.

Prosecutors additionally accuse Gibson – who additionally goes by the surname Niven – of compressing Amber’s neck together with his fingers and strangling her with the intention to rape her.

At the High Court in Glasgow on Thursday, advocate depute Richard Goddard confirmed a report compiled by the pathologist which famous Amber’s reason behind loss of life as “compression of the neck”.

Ms Kemp advised the courtroom her physique was “caked in mud” and had roughly eight particular person bruises to the entrance of her neck whereas there have been “significant” accidents to her head.

“These types of injuries are in keeping with manual gripping such as strangulation,” she mentioned.

Asked by Mr Goddard whether or not these accidents have been sufficient to render {the teenager} unconscious, Ms Kemp agreed, including: “Given the large area of distribution it has to have been multiple blows.”

She mentioned that there was “significant blunt force trauma” throughout Amber’s head, together with a fractured nostril, and mentioned the “brain appeared swollen to the naked eye, however, there was no signs of a traumatic brain injury”.

Earlier, the 15-strong jury heard from forensic scientist Lisa Gray who advised the courtroom that a number of articles of clothes, together with a bra, prime, jogging bottoms and a jacket, had vital abrasions.

The underwear, she mentioned, had appeared forcedly torn from Amber’s physique and was rendered unwearable.

Mr Goddard requested: “It was completely rippled apart, is that correct?”

Ms Gray replied: “Yes. It is difficult to measure the force but it will require quite a degree of force to cause that damage.”

She additionally mentioned that the injury to the trousers seemed to be brought on by a dragging movement.

Read extra:
Connor Gibson on trial accused of sexually assaulting and murdering sister
Murder trial hears footprint found on teenager’s bra ‘matched brother’s shoe’

Gibson is additional accused of making an attempt to defeat the ends of justice by disposing of bloodstained garments, and calling the kids’s house the place his sister was staying and pretending she was nonetheless alive.

He additionally faces a cost of making an attempt to pervert the course of justice by telling police he had argued together with his sister on the night of 26 November earlier than going to somebody’s house.

A second man, Stephen Corrigan, 44, can also be on trial.

He is accused of discovering Amber’s physique between 26 and 28 November, however as an alternative of alerting police, he’s alleged to have inappropriately touched her and hid her physique.

Both males deny all fees in opposition to them, with Corrigan’s defence agent Rhonda Anderson submitting a particular defence of alibi on his behalf.

The trial, earlier than Lord Mulholland, continues.