25 July 2023 , 11:36
642
0
A man sexually assaulted and murdered his teenage sister at a popular beauty spot before a second man assaulted her dead body, a court has heard.
Connor Gibson is accused of the murder of sister Amber Gibson in November 2021 at Cadzow Glen in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire.
A court has heard closing arguments in the trial against Gibson, 20, who it's alleged "violently assaulted" the 16-year-old, before "disposing of evidence" and "telling lie after lie" after her whereabouts.
Amber's body was discovered in the park two days after the alleged crime, in which time it's claimed Stephen Corrigan "inappropriately touched" her and further hid her under bushes and branches.
Richard Goddard KC, prosecuting, told Glasgow High Court it was a "tragedy" that the last face Amber saw was Gibson's.
Teen 'kept as slave, starved and beaten' sues adoptive parents and authorities
Connor Gibson who is on trial at the High Court in Glasgow charged with the sexual assault and murder of his sister Amber"Taking all separate sources in combination, it paints a clear picture that Gibson sexually assaulted and murdered his sister," Mr Goddard told the jury, adding the "muddy, dishevelled" brother went on "to tell a pack of lies about where he had been and what he did that evening."
Gibson stands accused alongside 45-year-old Corrigan, who is charged with a breach of the peace and attempting to defeat the ends of justice.
"She lay there until the Sunday morning, enough time for Corrigan to commit sordid acts," Mr Goddard told the court. "He handled her body and handled intimate areas of her."
Mr Goddard went into 21 different circumstances which linked Gibson to the murder and sexual assault of Amber, stating that Gibson “definitely disposed evidence in the aftermath and told lie after lie after lie about where he was and when he last saw his sister".
“The only thing he knew was to try and obstruct her as he knew what he had done.”
He added: “Gibson violently assaulted her, broke her nose, ripped off her bra and top and pulled off her joggers and underwear.”
The depute then pointed to evidence that a medical bandage with the Gibson’s DNA on it was found near Amber’s body.
A court heard Amber died after being strangled and assaultedMr Goddard claimed Amber was strangled as well as struck with multiple blows to the head and body.
Amber was last seen on CCTV with her brother before the alleged murder on Friday, November 26, Mr Goddard said, with footage showing them heading towards one of the park entrances where her body was found on the Sunday morning.
Jurors were reminded that Gibson was not spotted on the same CCTV again until over 90 minutes later.
Death fears for Emmerdale's Sarah as teen rushed to A&E after exposing secret
Mr Goddard said: “What was he doing in a dark secluded place for all that time? The very same place where Amber was later to be found. Taking it all together, it looks very suspicious.”
Mr Goddard claimed that there was evidence of a struggle between the pair and both ended up muddy.
The depute stated that Gibson was “caught red handed” throwing out a t-shirt and shorts when he returned home later that night.
Connor Gibson was seen heading to the park with sister AmberHe said: “Gibson knew his clothing would have compelling evidence, this was an effort in disposing it as quick as he could - he knew the severity.”
Mr Goddard further recalled that Gibson’s DNA was found on Amber’s bra, jogging bottoms, shorts being used as underwear and her body.
The depute then took the jury to the aftermath following Amber being reported missing.
He stated that Gibson “obstructed all efforts to try and bring back his sister.”
Mr Goddard claimed that Gibson told lies to members of staff staff at Amber and his own housing unit as well as police officers.
He said, while Amber was still missing, Gibson “refused to say where he last saw her”.
“Why obstruct police finding your own 16-year-old sister? The obvious answer is he didn’t want police finding her as he murdered her.”
Mr Goddard reminded jurors that Gibson sent a text message to Amber’s phone later that night that was never opened by her asking if she was okay.
The depute said: “He doesn’t try to phone her on Saturday or Sunday - he doesn’t try to message her - nothing.”
Mr Goddard then turned his attention to Corrigan who allegedly had his DNA on 39 areas of Amber’s body including intimate areas.
He said: “Virtually no part of her body went untouched by Corrigan.”
Concluding, Mr Goddard told the jury: “We have listened to evidence of the appalling murder of a 16-year-old girl by a person she must have trusted.
“You have heard overwhelming evidence of the outrageous acts committed on her by Corrigan.
“You have 21 separate circumstances arising from the evidence pointing in the same way against Gibson.
“You have 11 circumstances incriminating Corrigan and left with no remotely plausible explanation for the DNA given by forensic scientists.
"These points provide you as a jury with the reassurance you deserve to be satisfied that the right verdicts in this case are verdicts of guilty for each accused and that is what I invite you to do."
Tony Graham KC, defending Gibson, told the jury in his speech that there is not a time for Amber's death.
He said: "Can you convict someone of murder when you don't know when the person dies?"
The advocate also stated that Gibson did assault his sister which resulted in blunt force injuries, but did not cause her death.
Mr Graham reminded jurors that Amber's cause of death was compression of the neck.
He said: "Where does that take you in deciding that Connor Gibson should be found guilty of his sister's murder? There is no evidence of contact with the neck."
In his conclusion, he asked the jury to convict Gibson of assaulting Amber with every allegation deleted other than "inflict blunt trauma to her head."
Gibson and Corrigan both deny the charges. The trial before Judge Lord Mulholland continues.