Amber Gibson murder trial: Man accused of inappropriately touching her body 'was staying with his family'
Stephen Corrigan, 45, is on trial accused of discovering the 16-year-old's body but instead of alerting police, he is alleged to have inappropriately touched and concealed her body. Connor Gibson, 20, is accused of sexually assaulting and murdering his sister.
Thursday 20 July 2023 15:23, UK
A man accused of inappropriately touching a murdered teenager's body instead of alerting police was with his family all weekend in the evenings, his father has told a court.
Jurors heard from William Corrigan, 79, who said his son stayed at his home in Blantyre, South Lanarkshire, after a fall on ice left his arm in a sling.
Stephen Corrigan, 45, is on trial at the High Court in Glasgow accused of discovering the body of Amber Gibson, 16, but instead of alerting emergency services, he is alleged to have inappropriately touched and concealed her body between 26 and 28 November 2021.
Amber's body was discovered at Cadzow Glen, Hamilton, on 28 November.
In the first day of the defence evidence, Corrigan's lawyer Rhonda Anderson asked the retired baker of his son's whereabouts during the weekend in question.
Mr Corrigan said he had taken his son to a hospital appointment earlier in the week, on November 23, after he fell on ice and damaged his shoulder.
Corrigan's arm was subsequently placed in a sling, his father said.
On the Friday, Corrigan was then transported by his father to get his third COVID vaccine.
Mr Corrigan told the court: "One of his arms was in a sling and the other was just jabbed so he was feeling very sore.
"I asked if he could stay the night and said he didn't feel like going home as he was very sore."
He said his son stayed up late that night playing video games.
However, the following day, Mr Corrigan said he left the house for a number of hours to go to the bookmakers and returned home to find his son had left.
During cross-examination from advocate depute Richard Goddard, Mr Corrigan was asked if he remembered what his son had done the previous and following weeks surrounding the time in question.
He replied: "I couldn't tell you."
Mr Goddard continued: "You had no idea where he was when you were away to the bookies?"
The pensioner replied: "That's correct."
Mr Corrigan said he fell asleep once he was home from the bookmakers and his son had returned to the house when he woke.
Mr Goddard put it to him that he could not say where Corrigan was or what he was doing during that time. He replied: "That's right."
Read more:
Connor Gibson on trial accused of sexually assaulting and murdering sister
Amber Gibson 'had injuries consistent with being strangled'
Blood on brother Connor Gibson's clothes 'could indicate assault'
Man's DNA 'could have been on body before she died'
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Another man, Connor Gibson, 20, is accused of sexually assaulting and murdering Amber, his sister, and repeatedly inflicting blunt force trauma to her head and body on 26 November 2021.
Prosecutors also allege he compressed the teenager's neck with his hands and strangling her with the intention to rape her.
Charges of attempting to defeat the ends of justice by disposing of bloodstained clothes and attempting to pervert the course of justice by telling officers he had argued with his sister on 26 November before going to a friend's house were dropped by the Crown.
Both men deny the charges against them, with Corrigan's defence agent lodging a special defence of alibi on his behalf.
The trial, before judge Lord Mulholland, continues.