A footprint found on the bra of Amber Gibson appeared to match a shoe belonging to her brother, who is accused of sexually assaulting and murdering her, a court has heard.

A forensic scientist told the trial at the High Court in Glasgow she had analysed a mark on a bra near where the body of 16-year-old Amber was found.

Laura Wilcock said this appeared to match a shoe found at accommodation used by the teenager’s brother, Connor Gibson.

Gibson, 20, is alleged to have assaulted Amber, removing her clothes and repeatedly inflicting blunt force trauma to her head and body at Cadzow Glen in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, on 26 November 2021.

A second man, Stephen Corrigan, 44, is also standing trial.

He is accused of discovering Amber’s body between 26 and 28 November 2021 and instead of alerting police, he is alleged to have inappropriately touched her and then concealed her body.

Both men have pleaded not guilty to all charges against them, with Corrigan’s defence agent Rhonda Anderson submitting a special defence of alibi on his behalf.

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Under questioning from advocate depute Richard Goddard KC, Ms Wilcock said the mark was on the left side of the George bra.

She analysed four pairs of shoes, with a pair of Adidas Gazelles belonging to Gibson among these.

Mr Goddard asked the forensic scientist: “The mark you found between the bra and the footwear matched the Adidas Gazelle training shoes found at the Blue Triangle (accommodation).”

Ms Wilcock said: “We don’t give the term ‘matched’, there was an agreement in patterns.”

The forensic scientist was also questioned by Rhonda Anderson, representing Corrigan, and confirmed three pairs of Corrigan’s shoes had been eliminated from having made the mark.

She also said the mark was found on the inside of the bra, suggesting it was not being worn at the time.

Prosecutors also accuse Gibson – who is also known by the surname Niven – of compressing Amber’s neck with his hands and strangling her with the intent to rape her.

Gibson is further accused of attempting to defeat the ends of justice by disposing of bloodstained clothes, and calling the children’s home where his sister was staying and pretending she was still alive.

Read more:
Connor Gibson on trial accused of sexually assaulting and murdering sister

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The trial also heard evidence from detective inspector Stephen McGrath, who had interviewed Corrigan in connection with Amber’s murder.

They read out a transcript of parts of the interview, where DI McGrath said that Corrigan’s DNA was found on several different parts of Amber’s body, including her chest, buttocks and thighs.

The transcript showed that when asked for an explanation, Corrigan said “it’s a shock, it’s a shock to me”.

During the interview, he repeatedly said he did not know why his DNA was found on Amber’s body, at one point saying he was at a “complete loss”.

Asked if he had been to the area where Amber’s body was found, he said: “I have maybe dropped into the bush for a pee if I’ve had a drink or something.”

He also told police he had “nothing to hide”.

The trial, before Lord Mulholland, continues.

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