…By Henry George for TDPel Media.
In the murder trial at the High Court in Glasgow, a computer expert named James Borwick testified as a defence witness.
He presented an analysis of data retrieved from two mobile phones belonging to the accused, Stephen Corrigan.
The trial revolves around allegations that Corrigan inappropriately touched the deceased body of 16-year-old Amber Gibson, whose brother, Connor Gibson, is also on trial for her murder.
The analysis of mobile phone data played a crucial role in the proceedings, revealing connections and potential gaps in the accused’s whereabouts during the relevant period.
The Defence Expert’s Testimony
Computer expert James Borwick testified as a defence witness at the trial.
He discussed a report he had prepared after analyzing the mobile phones of Stephen Corrigan.
The accusations against Corrigan involve his alleged discovery of Amber Gibson’s body and failure to alert emergency services, as he is instead accused of inappropriately touching and concealing her body between November 26 and 28, 2021.
Data Analysis and Connections
Jurors were presented with Mr Borwick’s report, which detailed the networks to which the phones had connected during the weekend of November 26-28, 2021.
The report indicated that one of the phones had been connected to a wifi network named the “dookit” for a significant portion of the weekend.
Interestingly, this network was traced back to the address of Corrigan’s father, William Corrigan.
However, there was a period on the afternoon of Saturday, November 27, 2021, when the phone was connected to a mobile wifi device, making it impossible to determine its location.
Questioning by the Defence Agent
Rhonda Anderson, Corrigan’s defence agent, questioned Mr Borwick further about the phone call data and their locations.
The expert stated that he found only two instances when the phone was in the Hamilton area, on November 3 and November 16.
The report’s conclusion highlighted that none of the cell sites were connected to Cadzow Glen or Hamilton, where the body of Amber Gibson was discovered.
Prosecution’s Challenge to the Report
Advocate depute Richard Goddard KC cross-examined the computer expert on behalf of the prosecution.
Goddard pointed out a mistake in the report, as it failed to account for the “gap” in data during the Saturday afternoon.
Mr Borwick acknowledged the oversight and admitted that there were instances where the phone’s location could not be determined.
Clarification on the Gap in Data
Ms Anderson revisited the issue during her questioning, and Mr Borwick agreed that an earlier part of his report explicitly mentioned the gap in connection to the “dookit” network.
This clarification further emphasized the challenges in determining the phone’s location during certain periods.
Accusations against Connor Gibson
In addition to Stephen Corrigan, Amber Gibson’s brother, Connor Gibson, is also on trial.
He is accused of sexually assaulting and murdering his sister on November 26, 2021.
Prosecutors allege that he inflicted blunt force trauma to her head and body and strangled her with the intention to rape her.
Closing of the Defence’s Evidence
The defence concluded presenting their evidence on Friday, and Lord Mulholland announced that closing speeches from the prosecution and both defence teams would occur on Monday.
This marked a crucial phase in the trial as it approached its conclusion.
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