Amber Gibson: Man 'inappropriately touched' body of murdered teenager killed by her own brother

A 45-year-old man faces a “lengthy sentence” after he was found guilty of inappropriately touching the body of murdered teenager Amber Gibson.

Stephen Corrigan was found guilty of attempting to defeat the ends of justice and breach of the peace by intimately touching and concealing Amber's body after discovering her at some point after her murder, instead of contacting the emergency services.

Amber's brother, Connor Gibson, 20, was convicted of sexually assaulting and murdering his 16-year-old sister in woodland in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, on 26 November 2021.

He had denied the charges against him but was found guilty on Tuesday after a 13-day trial at the High Court in Glasgow.

Corrigan, who the court was told was not known to Amber, also denied the charge and had lodged a special 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 lying to protect him.

The court heard that Corrigan told police he was at a “complete loss” to explain why his DNA was found on 39 areas of Amber's body, including her breasts, buttocks and thighs.

Judge Mulholland told Corrigan he had been convicted of “horrific crimes”.

He said: “Coming across a young girl who had been strangled to death, she was naked… instead of alerting the authorities you decide … to handle her body all over from head to toe including areas that were intimate – private parts – and your DNA told the story.”

Amber Gibson’s brother guilty of murder

Connor Gibson faces life in prison after he was found guilty of murdering his sister on Tuesday.

Jurors heard how Gibson removed his sister’s clothes, sexually assaulted her with the intention of raping her, inflicted blunt force trauma to her head and body, and strangled her.

Ms Gibson was reported missing on the evening of Friday, 26 November and her body was discovered in Cadzow Glen at about 10.10am on 28 November.

Gibson was arrested three days later, on 1 December, and, the day before his arrest, posted a chilling tribute to the sister he had murdered, writing on Facebook: “Amber, you will fly high for the rest of time. We will all miss you. Especially me. I love you ginger midget. GBFN (goodbye for now) X.”

The forensic pathologist who carried out the post-mortem examination on Ms Gibson’s body told the court she was found covered in mud and the cause of death was “compression of the neck”.

Jurors also heard other forensic evidence that “widespread blood staining” on Gibson’s jacket was compatible with Ms Gibson and his DNA was also found on her shorts, worn as underwear, which had been “forcibly torn” off.

Judge Lord Mulholland told Gibson: “Your sister – the last person she saw was you strangling her. It was depraved and you will pay a heavy price for that.”

He told Gibson he faces a mandatory life sentence with the punishment part to be decided after considering the plea in mitigation on his behalf and a criminal justice social work report.

Read more

• Top cop describes brother as ‘cold and calculated killer' (Glasgow Times, 4 min)

• Was she let down? Amber Gibson's last months and moments (Herald Scotland, 6 min)

• Time should be spent remembering Amber, says detective (PA, 2 min)

• Connor Gibson found guilty of murdering teenage sister Amber (Sky News, 5 min)