Police ScotlandA man who will stand trial accused of inappropriately touching a dead girl has been granted bail.
Stephen Corrigan, 44, allegedly committed a breach of the peace and attempted to defeat the ends of justice between in November 2021.
Amber Gibson was reported missing from Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, after failing to return home on Friday, November 26.
The 16-year-old’s body was discovered in the town’s Cadzow Glen two days later.
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.
His co-accused and Amber’s brother, Connor Gibson, faces a murder charge against his sister from November 26, 2021.
Prosecutors claim the 20-year-old removed Amber’s clothes and repeatedly inflicted blunt force trauma to her head and body.
Gibson – who also uses the name Niven – is then said to have strangled the teenager with his hands.
It is claimed he did this with intent to rape Amber and murdered his sister.
Gibson faces further charges of attempting to defeat the ends of justice and attempting to pervert the course of justice.
This includes claims he got rid of clothes he had been wearing and that he called the children’s home Amber was staying at to pretend she was still alive.
Gibson is also said to have told police he last saw his sister after she walked off from an argument near to a community centre in Hamilton on the day of the alleged killing.
Corrigan – who appeared from custody – requested bail at a hearing at the High Court in Glasgow on Tuesday, January 17.
His lawyer Rhonda Anderson told the court that there has been a “material change of circumstances” since an earlier bail hearing last year.
She stated that this was in relation to the behaviour a 16-year-old boy who is familiar with Corrigan who is staying with an elderly man.
“The boy listens to Mr Corrigan and to his direction,” she said.
“The difficulty is he has problems with his development and has ADHD.
“The absence of Mr Corrigan makes it difficult for him.
“The situation would be relieved if Mr Corrigan was released which is the opinion of a professional.
“The man the boy is staying with is struggling with him and has failing health.
“He says the boy has respect for Mr Corrigan who can discipline him better.
“The man believes if Mr Corrigan was about then the boy’s behaviour can be manageable.”
Prosecutor Kath Harper stated that Corrigan has had “patchy” contact with the boy since 2008.
She added that she had read that the boy’s behaviour “falls in line with his age”.
Judge Lord Scott granted Corrigan bail to an address close to where the elderly man lives who will remain his primary carer.
The judge said: “I don’t know what motivates you to see the boy.
“The man looking after him needs help with him and if it wasn’t for that you would not be getting bail now.
“If you breach your bail; you will be remanded in custody after being arrested very quickly.”
A bail curfew was granted ordering Corrigan to stay indoors between 7pm and 7am.
A trial for Corrigan will take place in July.
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