Connor Gibson goes on trial accused of murdering teenage sister in Hamilton
He allegedly killed 16-year-old Amber in November 2021
Last updated 6th Jul 2023
A man has today gone on trial accused of sexually assaulting and murdering his teenage sister.
Connor Gibson allegedly killed Amber Gibson, 16, at Cadzow Glen in Hamilton, Lanarkshire on November 26 2021.
Prosecutors at the High Court in Glasgow claim the 20 year-old removed Amber's clothes and repeatedly inflicted blunt force trauma to her head and body.
Gibson - who also uses the name Niven like his sister did - is then said to have strangled the teenager with his hands.
It is claimed he did this with intent to rape Amber and did murder her.
READ MORE: Man to face trial accused of sexually assaulting and murdering sister in Hamilton.
Gibson faces further charges of attempting to defeat the ends of justice and attempting to pervert the course of justice.
This includes claims he got rid of clothes he had been wearing and that he called the children's home Amber was staying at to pretend she was still alive.
Gibson is also said to have told police he last seen his sister after she walked off from an argument near to a community centre in Hamilton on the day of the alleged killing with him then allegedly visiting another man in the town.
Co-accused
Stephen Corrigan, 45, is a co-accused of Gibson.
He does not face the murder allegation, but is instead charged with breach of the peace and attempting to defeat the ends of justice.
RED MORE: Man charged in connection with death of Hamilton teenager.
It is claimed Corrigan found Amber's body, but rather than alert police, he inappropriately touched her and then hid her remains under bushes and branches.
This is said to have occurred on an occasion between November 26 and 28 2021.
Corrigan has lodged a special defence of alibi that he was elsewhere at the time.
Both Gibson - represented by Tony Graham KC - and Corrigan - whose lawyer is solicitor advocate Rhonda Anderson - both deny the charges.
Richard Goddard KC is leading the prosecution.
Addressing jurors at the start of the trial, Lord Mulholland told them verdicts should be returned on the evidence and not based on “emotion”, “morality” or “lifestyle” choices of others.
Not a "good mix"
The former foster father of Connor Gibson and 16 year-old Amber Gibson, Craig Niven, was the first witness in the case today.
He told how him and his wife Carol had been foster parents since 2006.
Two years later, the couple had been approached to look after Gibson and younger sister Amber.
Amber stayed with them until 2019 before moving to Hillhouse Children's Unit in Hamilton.
Gibson was with them until around his 18th birthday in 2020.
The court heard the 20 year-old contacted his ex-foster dad Craig Niven after Amber had been found claiming he had been "banged up" as police suspected he may have been involved.
Mr Niven claimed they were no a "good mix".
The trial continues.