Amber Gibson: Jury retires to think about verdict – as brother faces homicide cost

The jury within the trial of a person accused of sexually assaulting and murdering his 16-year-old sister has been despatched out to start its deliberations.

Connor Gibson, 20, is accused of attacking Amber Gibson in woodland in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, on 26 November 2021.

He is charged with eradicating her clothes, sexually assaulting her with the intention of raping her, inflicting blunt-force trauma to her head and physique, and strangling her.

Gibson denies the costs in opposition to him and is on the thirteenth day of trial on the High Court in Glasgow.

Amber was reported lacking on the night of Friday 26 November and her physique was found in Cadzow Glen at about 10.10am on 28 November.

The forensic pathologist who carried out the autopsy examination on Amber’s physique instructed the court docket she was discovered lined in mud and the reason for loss of life was “compression of the neck”.

Jurors additionally heard different forensic proof that “widespread blood staining” on Gibson’s jacket was suitable with Amber and his DNA was additionally discovered on her shorts, worn as underwear, which had been “forcibly torn” off.

Giving proof, Gibson’s former foster father Craig Niven had stated he wouldn’t depart the siblings in one another’s firm as a result of they had been “not a good mix”.

Mr Niven and his spouse had fostered the siblings since Amber was three and her brother was 5. The couple had been granted everlasting care of the siblings a number of years later.

Mr Niven instructed the court docket he had not heard from his former foster son throughout Amber’s disappearance however, in a name on the day her physique was found, Gibson instructed him the pair had “fallen out” once they noticed one another two days beforehand.

Read extra:
Connor Gibson on trial accused of sexually assaulting and murdering sister
Amber Gibson ‘had injuries consistent with being strangled’
Blood on brother Connor Gibson’s clothes ‘could indicate assault’

Also on trial is Stephen Corrigan, 45, who’s accused of trying to defeat the ends of justice by inappropriately touching and concealing Amber’s physique as an alternative of contacting the emergency companies.

Corrigan, stated in court docket to not be recognized to Gibson, additionally denies the cost and has lodged a particular defence of alibi.

His father, William Corrigan, 79, told the court his son was at his home in Blantyre, South Lanarkshire, that weekend after a fall on ice left his arm in a sling, and denied mendacity to guard him.

The court docket heard Corrigan instructed police he was at a “complete loss” to clarify why his DNA was discovered on 39 areas of Amber’s physique, together with her breasts, buttocks and thighs.

Giving evidence, forensic biologist Alana Gunn stated she believed this was from direct contact however couldn’t rule out secondary switch, and couldn’t say whether or not or not it was current earlier than or after Amber’s loss of life.

Judge Lord Mulholland despatched jurors out to think about their verdicts on Tuesday morning.