Man who murdered girlfriend in hot tub in Shetland is jailed for life

A person has been jailed for all times after being discovered responsible of murdering his girlfriend in a sizzling tub in Shetland.

Aren Pearson, 41, stabbed 24-year-old Claire Leveque to dying at his mom’s residence in Sandness on 11 February final yr.

Pearson denied homicide and claimed in courtroom that Ms Leveque had stabbed herself – however a jury discovered him responsible after a trial on the Excessive Courtroom in Edinburgh.

He must serve a minimal of 25 years in jail earlier than he’s eligible for parole.

Choose Lord Arthurson stated it was against the law of “distinctive depravity” and described Pearson’s proof in courtroom as “malicious” and “fabricated”.

Police stated Pearson had a “controlling and violent” relationship with Ms Leveque, and had tried to degrade and abuse her earlier than the homicide.

“The extent of violence Aren Pearson inflicted is actually horrifying,” stated Det Insp Richard Baird.

Ms Leveque was stabbed greater than 25 instances on her neck and chest throughout the assault.

The couple, who’re each from Canada, had moved to Scotland in 2023.

The trial was advised that Pearson’s late mom Hazel Pearson, who died in Might, had dialled 999 on the night of the homicide.

She advised police that her son had walked into the kitchen and returned with a knife.

He stabbed himself within the neck and advised her that he had damage his girlfriend.

Ms Pearson then discovered Ms Leveque within the sizzling tub, which was in a shed at her residence.

“The water was pink with blood,” she advised police.

“Claire was lined with blood. She had extreme accidents to her face.”

Ms Pearson additionally advised detectives that her son had appeared like “a zombie” after the assault.

Through the 999 name, Pearson took the cellphone and confessed to the killing. He stated he had stabbed his girlfriend about 40 instances.

He additionally confessed to cops on the crime scene and to a physician whereas he was being handled in hospital.

Nonetheless, giving proof throughout the trial he claimed Ms Leveque had struck him, grabbed a knife after which jumped into the new tub, the place she stabbed herself 4 or 5 instances.

Pearson claimed she had misplaced her mood after listening to him communicate to her father Clint in Canada about how a lot alcohol she was ingesting.

After being detained by police, Pearson was taken to the Gilbert Bain Hospital in Lerwick.

The jury heard that he stated he had stabbed himself within the neck, consumed brake fluid and pushed his Porsche automobile into the water.

A&E marketing consultant Dr Caroline Heggie handled him for 2 days following his arrest.

Prosecutor Margaret Barron requested Dr Heggie if Pearson had stated one thing that caught together with her.

She replied: “He stated: ‘I have been making an attempt to eliminate her for some time’.”

Ms Leveque’s father Clint stated his daughter had been “joyful, optimistic and so pleasant to everyone”.

Chatting with the Canadian Broadcasting Company (CBC), Mr Leveque stated his daughter was “a typical daddy’s lady”.

“My daughter texted me each night time: ‘I really like you dad’. Each night time of her life,” he stated.

“There’s nothing unfavorable that anyone might probably say about her.”

Mr Leveque stated his daughter, who grew up in Westloch, Alberta, had a love of journey.

“There is no phrases to explain this entire scenario,” he added.

Hope Saunders, who nonetheless lives in Canada, was an in depth pal of Ms Leveque.

“It is sickening that somebody so vivid and so younger and so lovely might have her life taken away from her within the flash of a second like that,” she stated.

“It’s onerous to grasp and it provides you that sick feeling in your abdomen, and her being so far-off within the Shetland Islands breaks my coronary heart much more.

“I do not need to even take into consideration how scared she may need been in that second.”

Andrea Manson, the convenor of Shetland Islands Council, stated she hoped that the responsible verdict introduced some closure to Ms Leveque’s household.

“In a usually secure and caring group the tragic lack of a wonderful younger lass is a tragedy that is being felt by everybody in Shetland,” she stated.