Stained clothes were found in a wheelie bin outside where a man accused of murdering his sister was living, a trial heard today.
Connor Gibson, 20, is charged with the sexual assault and murder of 16-year-old Amber Gibson at Cadzow Glen, Hamilton, Lanarkshire, on Friday November 26 2021.
Jurors heard that Gibson was living at Blue Triangle accommodation in Hamilton at the time of the alleged murder.
A police officer told the High Court in Glasgow that she found a white Levi's t-shirt, a pair of grey shorts in the bin. Grey Adidas trainers were also seized from Gibson’s room.
She stated that the t-shirt and the shorts had stains on them while the trainers showed dirt on them.
Gibson later told officers in his police statement that he had been wearing a Rangers top and camouflage shorts on the night of Amber's disappearance.
Gibson further stated that he put his clothes in the washing basket after returning home from a walk with Amber following a disagreement between them.
The court was shown CCTV of Amber's final moments alive where Gibson was noted to wear grey Adidas trainers and grey shorts.
Co-accused Stephen Corrigan, 45, is charged with breach of the peace and attempting to defeat the ends of justice. He had lodged a special defence of alibi.
It is claimed Corrigan found Amber's body, but rather than alert police, he inappropriately touched her and then hid her remains under bushes and branches.
This is said to have occurred on an occasion between November 26 and 28 2021.
The court heard from detective sergeant Karen Murray, 43, who claimed to have taken a statement from Gibson around 11.30am on Sunday November 28.
The statement was read out where Gibson said he had a Hummel Rangers top on, camouflage shorts as well as a black Canada Goose jacket.
Gibson stated after a disagreement with Amber he went to a friend's house before walking to the Blue Triangle. He claimed to have fallen into a ditch near Hamilton Accies' football ground which made his legs and hands "manky."
He said: "I put my clothes in the washing basket and went for a shower."
Prosecutor Richard Goddard KC asked Sgt Murray if at any point Gibson put his clothes in a wheelie bin outside of the Blue Triangle. The witness replied: "No."
Constable Rachel Morning, 29, had earlier visited the Blue Triangle before the statement was taken.
PC Morning claimed that she received information from a member of staff about a colleague who saw Gibson on the night Amber went missing.
Mr Goddard asked what that was and she replied: "He said the staff member saw Connor Gibson leave his room and place something in the in outside and run to his room."
The officer claimed that she went on to search each wheelie bin that was outside of the Blue Triangle.
She said: "I observed what I believed to be clothing - a light coloured t-shirt, grey jogging bottoms or shorts and within a crisp packet there was some fluffy object."
Mr Goddard asked if there was something that drew her attention to the shorts. She replied: "There appeared to be staining which appeared to be like blood on them."
Detective sergeant Joanne McCall, 46, told the court she later attended and recovered clothing from the bin. She said: "There were grey cotton shorts, a white Levi's t-shirt and a facemask."
The clothes were also covered by a McDonald's takeaway bag. Jurors were shown pictures of the clothing with Sgt McCall stating that the t-shirt had "red staining" on it.
A pair of Adidas Gazelle trainers seized had "dirt and staining to the sole." A Canada Goose jacket recovered from Gibson's room also had a stain on the front and arm.
CCTV of Gibson and Amber walking near Cadzow Bridge on the night of the alleged murder was then played to the court.
Detective constable David Cameron, 39, identified that Gibson was wearing a "black jacket with a fur hood, grey shorts and grey Adidas trainers."
He also stated that he could see that Gibson was wearing a white top under his jacket. DC Cameron stated that the pair continued to walk in the direction of Cadzow Glen at around 10pm.
Jurors witnessed footage of the pair walking past an ice cream shop at the time. Gibson was not picked up by the same CCTV footage again until an hour and 40 minutes later at 11.40pm.
Mr Goddard asked: "He is by himself now?", to which DC Cameron said: "Yes."
Mr Goddard then asked: "Do we see Amber Gibson on CCTV again?", and DC Cameron said: "No".
The witness stated that Gibson appeared to rub mud from his shorts and had a cut or blood on his ankle. He was noted to stop at the ML3 bar and speak to two men outside before continuing his journey.
CCTV followed Gibson from Cadzow Bridge to a similar route which seen him arrive back at the Blue Triangle before midnight. Footage from the premises showed Gibson in a change of clothes leaving the accommodation at 12.22am.
DC Cameron stated: "He walked towards the bin area and could be seen carrying a bin with items within."
The trial continued before Judge Lord Mulholland.
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