In a case that has shaken the community, 21-year-old Connor Gibson has been sentenced to a minimum of 22 years in prison after being found guilty of the brutal assault and murder of his 16-year-old sister, Amber Gibson. The event unfolded in November 2021 in Cadzow Glen, Hamilton, South Lanarkshire.
During a 13-day trial at the high court in Glasgow, evidence including DNA traces and CCTV footage corroborated Gibson’s involvement in the crime where he sexually assaulted and strangled Amber. Despite the overwhelming evidence, Gibson denied any involvement, claiming ignorance as to why his DNA was found on her.
Lord Mulholland, presiding at the high court in Livingston, did not hold back in condemning Gibson’s actions as “truly evil”, detailing the horrific manner in which Amber was assaulted and ultimately killed by her brother. Notably, Gibson will not be eligible for automatic parole, marking the gravity of the crime.
In a parallel judgement, Stephen Corrigan, 45, who wasn’t acquainted with Gibson, received a nine-year sentence for interfering with the crime scene and failing to report the discovery of Amber’s body to the authorities, further obstructing justice.
At the time of the incident, the siblings were living separately due to their troubled upbringing, which was highlighted during the trial. Their foster parents, Craig and Carol Niven, noted the complex relationship between the siblings, mentioning the distinct challenges both faced growing up. They remembered Amber as a vivacious young girl with a positive outlook on life despite her past hardships.
In a sombre reflection, the Nivens acknowledged the systemic failures that let down both siblings, culminating in this heartrending tragedy, drastically altering the lives entwined in this case.
This trial also unearthed Amber’s prior sexual assault by Jamie Starrs in an unrelated incident earlier in 2021, for which Starrs has been convicted and sentenced.
