Rape trial hears evidence from murdered teenager Amber Gibson

Amber Gibson's body was found at Cadzow Glen in Hamilton

A rape trial has heard evidence from a teenage girl who was sexually assaulted and murdered by her brother more than two years ago.

Amber Gibson's body was found in a park in Hamilton in November 2021. Her 21-year-old brother was found guilty of the killing earlier this year.

On Wednesday, a police officer read out a statement from Amber at the trial of Garry Kane.

He denies raping a 16-year-old girl in Blantyre in July 2021.

Det Con Elaine Ross said that in the statement, Amber said she had received a phone call from a friend on 16 July 2021.

"She said that she needed help. She sounded upset on the phone.

"She told me on the phone that one of the guys... pushed her down a hill. She also said the guy raped her."

'Very upset'

Det Con Ross said Amber told her she had taken a train to Blantyre and met her friend and another female at about 20:30.

In the statement, Amber said her friend was "very upset" and had been crying.

Mr Kane, 27, from Hamilton, is accused of raping the teenager near Ellisland Drive, Blantyre.

Giving evidence, the girl - who is now aged 18 - said she had gone to Calder Park with the accused and two other friends.

She said that she and Mr Kane had been walking ahead of the others. He pushed her down a hill, then raped her.

She said she told the other female and Amber what had happened almost immediately afterwards. The trial continues.

Amber was sexually assaulted and murdered in November 2021 by her brother Connor Gibson, who was jailed for at least 22 years for the crime.

Five months before she was murdered, Amber was raped by 20-year-old Jamie Starrs.

He was also convicted of raping another teenage girl in Bothwell in May 2021, and was sentenced to 10-and-a-half years in prison.