Amber Gibson murder trial told brother's DNA found on body

Amber's body was found in Cadzow Glen in Hamilton, days after she was last seen

The DNA of a man accused of murdering his sister in a Lanarkshire park was found on her body, a trial has heard.

Connor Gibson, 20, is accused of sexually assaulting and murdering Amber Gibson, 16, in Cadzow Glen, Hamilton, in November 2021.

A jury was told a forensic profile matching that of Stephen Corrigan, 44, was also found on the teenager's body. He is accused of trying to defeat the ends of justice.

Both men deny the charges.

This report contains graphic details

Forensic biologist Alana Gunn told the trial at the High Court Glasgow that a sample from Amber's right hip had DNA which, as well as finding a match with Amber, was also found to match both Mr Gibson and Mr Corrigan.

She found that in the case of both accused it was greater than a billion times more likely to have come from them than two individuals unrelated to the them.

The witness said Mr Gibson's DNA, on parts of Amber's body, could be explained by him having been in contact with her.

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Meanwhile, a total of 39 DNA samples were found to be a match to a varying degree with Mr Corrigan.

The jury heard it most likely came from his skin cells and saliva Ms Gunn said the findings could be explained by direct contact from Mr Corrigan with Amber's unclothed body.

The trial was also told a pair of grey jogging bottoms and shorts, which Ms Gunn found to have been worn by Amber, were examined.

Her brother's DNA was found on the garments and Ms Gunn said, in her opinion, the forensic profile came from Mr Gibson's skin cells.

She said there was nothing that matched Mr Corrigan's DNA on the jogging bottoms or shorts.

Earlier, Ms Gunn told the court that Mr Corrigan's DNA had been found all over Amber's body in areas that would have been covered if the joggers and shorts had been worn at the time.

It is claimed that he found her body, but rather than alert police, he inappropriately touched her and then hid her remains under bushes.

Mr Corrigan has lodged a special defence claiming he was elsewhere at the time.

The trial, before Lord Mulholland, continues.