Convicted of a brutal crime in Shetland
A man from Canada has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his girlfriend in a hot tub at his mother’s home in Sandness, Shetland. Aren Pearson, 41, was found guilty of murder after a High Court trial in Edinburgh, with jurors also convicting him of assaulting Claire Leveque, 24.
The attack and its aftermath
Ms Leveque was stabbed repeatedly during the fatal assault, suffering at least 26 stab wounds. The jury heard how she was attacked in the garage hot tub, with 19 of those wounds to her face and neck. Pearson denied murder, claiming that Ms Leveque had stabbed herself, but the court rejected this account.
Judge Lord Alexander or Lord Arthurson (depending on source) handed down a life sentence, specifying a minimum of 25 years before eligibility for parole. This follows evidence that Pearson admitted the killings to multiple people, including a 999 operator, attending police officers, and hospital staff after inflicting superficial injuries on himself.
<h2 Controlling and violent conduct
During the trial, jurors were shown a six-minute audio recording in which Pearson discussed the relationship and the fatal incident. He later admitted, in a statement to emergency services, that he had killed his girlfriend in the hot tub after she allegedly attacked him during an argument. The court heard that Pearson had previously claimed Claire drank heavily and caused him problems, including a plan to send her back to Canada with money he had acquired from online investments.
<h2 Reactions and impact
Following the verdict, relatives of Claire Leveque spoke of their grief and desire to remember her positively. Her cousin Hope Ingram described her as a bubbly, fun person who brightened every room and who wanted to travel and explore the world. Family members hope that the conviction provides some sense of closure after such a devastating loss.
Detective Inspector Richard Baird summarized the case as reflecting a pattern of controlling and violent behaviour. He stated that Pearson’s actions after the killing demonstrated cruelty and selfishness, and that the sentence is a just outcome for the harm inflicted on Claire Leveque and her family.
<h2 What happens next
Under Scottish law, Pearson will serve a life sentence with a minimum period before he can apply for parole. The court’s verdict and sentence aim to bring some measure of accountability for the violence that occurred in a private home setting on Shetland, and to underscore the grave consequences of domestic abuse and murder.
<h2 About the victims and community response
Claire Leveque, a 24-year-old woman from Canada, was remembered by friends and family as a bright and adventurous individual. The case has prompted discussions about safety, coercive control, and the steps communities can take to prevent domestic violence from escalating to fatal violence in remote locations like Shetland.
