Amber Gibson detective speaks after Connor Gibson guilty

Detective Chief Superintendent Paul Livingstone says the investigation into the brutal killing of the bright and popular 16-year-old has been one of the most harrowing officers have worked on. 

Connor Gibson, 20, was today found guilty of sexually assaulting and murdering Amber in Hamilton's Cadzow Glen in November 2021 after a lengthy trial.

Connor Gibson (Image: Crown Office)

Gibson - who is also known by the surname Niven – denied compressing Amber's neck and strangling her with the intent to rape her, but was convicted by a jury.

He was also found guilty 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 that she was still alive.

His co-accused Stephen Corrigan, 45, was also convicted of trying to defeat the ends of justice after he found Amber’s body, but rather than alert police, he inappropriately touched her and then hid her remains under bushes.

Amber Gibson (Image: Facebook)

During the trial before Lord Mulholland at the High Court in Glasgow, jurors were told that DNA found on Amber’s body and clothing was a match for that of Gibson and Corrigan.

DCS Livingstone, who is head of major crime for Police Scotland, told the Glasgow Times that he hoped today’s conviction would help to bring some comfort to Amber’s heartbroken loved ones.

Detective Chief Superintendent Paul Livingstone (Image: Gordon Terris, Newsquest)

He said: “Gibson’s denial of what he did was cold and calculated. He lied to protect himself, I just don’t know how anyone could be so depraved and evil.

“Compound to that is the fact that this was his sister, who had a difficult start in life. She was someone who would have been there for him during many troubled times, so how he could end up taking her life just beggars belief."

The detective says that evil Gibson should have confessed to save Amber's friends and family from having to face him every day in court.

He added: “If he had pleaded guilty that would have saved the family from going through the ordeal of a trial. Instead, they had to sit there and relive the trauma that Amber went through.

“This was a very challenging and harrowing case, and our thoughts remain with the family and loved ones of Amber. We hope the conviction today will bring them some comfort.”

During the trial jurors heard how Gibson and Amber were described as 'not a good mix' by their former foster father.

Craig Niven provided a roof to Amber until 2019 before she moved to Hillhouse Children's Unit in Hamilton, while Gibson was with the family until around his 18th birthday in 2020.

A friend of Amber's who stayed with her at the children's unit also gave evidence.

Angel McKean, 19, said she had regarded the teenager as a "wee sister" and told how she had seen Amber at the unit on the night she was killed.

Miss McKean: "She said that she was going to meet her brother and seemed quite excited about it."

The witness did not see Amber again, however, she recalled getting sent a photo from her via Snapchat that night. It was timed at 9.51pm on November 26.

Jurors were shown the "selfie-style" picture of Amber with a male in a baseball cap with the caption "My big bro".

It’s understood a full review into the case with a variety of agencies such as social work will now take place.

Detective Chief Superintendent Paul Livingstone (Image: Gordon Terris, Newsquest)

Mr Livingstone added: “I’ve spent 29 years in the job, and this case was very challenging for eveyone involved. Sadly, we will never know if Amber’s death could have been avoided and we will be conducting a learning review into the case with a multi-agency approach.

“The circumstances were so unique and horrific that how could you anticipate something like this could happen, who knows what was going through Gibson’s mind.

"It’s hard to imagine how difficult this has been for Amber’s family and friends and I hope that this conviction brings some degree of closure. The actions of both Gibson and Corrigan leave them beneath contempt. Gibson has never once shown an ounce of remorse.

Detective Chief Superintendent Paul Livingstone (Image: Gordon Terris, Newsquest)

"This was a complex investigation involving a range of specialist police officers from within Police Scotland. Working closely with our partners in forensic services, all of whom I would pay tribute to for their professionalism and dedication, we got the right result. I’d also like to thank members of the public for their help during our enquiries that undoubtedly helped in securing this conviction.”