Amber Gibson’s homicide trial hears accused man’s DNA ‘may have been on physique earlier than she died’

The DNA of a person accused of inappropriately touching a murdered teenager’s physique as a substitute of alerting police might have been current on her physique earlier than her loss of life, a forensic biologist has advised a courtroom.

Stephen Corrigan, 45, is on trial accused of discovering Amber Gibson’s physique between 26 and 28 November 2021 however as a substitute of alerting police, he’s alleged to have inappropriately touched and hid her physique.

The 16-year-old’s physique was found on 28 November at Cadzow Glen in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire.

Her brother, Connor Gibson, can also be on trial on the High Court in Glasgow accused of murdering and sexually assaulting Amber, who was additionally recognized by the surname Niven.

Corrigan’s defence agent, Rhonda Anderson, cross-examined forensic biologist Alana Gunn on Wednesday.

The courtroom had beforehand heard from Ms Gunn that Corrigan’s DNA was “widespread” on Amber’s physique, spanning 39 areas, together with her buttocks, breasts and pubic space, with the forensic biologist estimating it got here from “direct contact”.

However, following questioning from Ms Anderson, Ms Gunn mentioned she couldn’t “exclude” the likelihood that his DNA was on {the teenager}’s physique by secondary switch.

Ms Anderson put to Ms Gunn, if Ms Gibson had slept bare inside a sleeping bag that had Corrigan’s DNA on it earlier than her loss of life, that might account for why his DNA was on her physique.

Ms Gunn replied: “If there was a significant amount of DNA in the sleeping bag then I couldn’t exclude that, no.”

Ms Anderson mentioned: “As I understand it, your position from your evidence is that it could be that Stephen Corrigan’s DNA deposited on Ms Niven’s body could have been deposited before she went to the park (Cadzow Glen).

“Should the women and gents on the jury perceive that you’re unable to exclude that his DNA was deposited on Amber Niven’s physique earlier than she went to the park and earlier than she died?”

Ms Gunn replied: “We can’t inform you precisely what time the DNA was deposited,” earlier than including proof didn’t say whether or not it existed on her physique earlier than or after her loss of life.

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’

Both Corrigan and Gibson deny all fees towards them, with Ms Anderson lodging a particular defence of alibi on her consumer’s behalf.

Gibson can also be accused of eradicating his sister’s garments and repeatedly inflicting blunt pressure trauma to her head and physique on 26 November 2021.

Prosecutors allege he compressed {the teenager}’s neck along with his arms and strangled her with the intention to rape her.

He faces additional fees of making an attempt to defeat the ends of justice by disposing of bloodstained garments and calling the youngsters’s dwelling the place his sister lived and pretending she was alive.

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

The trial, earlier than Judge Lord Mulholland, continues.