MAN WHO MURDERED GIRLFRIEND IN HOT TUB ON SHETLAND JAILED FOR LIFE
A man responsible for the death of his girlfriend in a hot tub on Shetland has received a life sentence with a minimum term of 25 years.Aren Pearson, aged 41, committed the stabbing of Claire Leveque, aged 24, at his mother’s residence in Sandness on 11 February 2024.
During the High Court in Edinburgh hearing, it was revealed that Ms Leveque was pierced at least 26 times during the fatal assault, with 19 of those wounds located on her face and neck.
Pearson contested the charge of murder, claiming that Ms Leveque had inflicted the injuries on herself, but following a trial, the jury found him guilty of murder.
In addition to murder, he was convicted of assaulting Ms Leveque.
The presiding judge, Lord Arthurson, sentenced Pearson to life imprisonment, stipulating that he must serve at least 25 years before being eligible for parole.
Testimonies earlier in the trial explained how Pearson, a Canadian national, admitted to causing the fatal injuries to emergency call operators, police officers, and healthcare workers who treated him for minor self-inflicted injuries.
After taking his mother Hazel’s phone who had passed away earlier this year—he described the incident to emergency services: "Hi, my name is Aren Pearson.
I've just killed my girlfriend in the hot tub in the garage.
I stabbed her about 40 times in the heart, stomach, face, neck and back.
I stabbed myself in the neck four times." Pearson alleged that Ms Leveque, also from Canada, had consumed excessive alcohol and was irritating him.
He further admitted to killing her and to driving his Porsche into the ocean.
His mother later described him to police as appearing like a "zombie" on the night of the attack.
She recounted how he entered the kitchen, confessed to hurting Ms Leveque, and then stabbed himself in the neck with a small black-handled knife.
Following his arrest in connection with Ms Leveque’s death, Pearson was taken to Gilbert Bain Hospital.
Jurors learned that he had also stabbed himself in the neck, ingested brake fluid, and driven his vehicle off a pier, prompting medical staff to give him an antidote and perform a CT scan to assess his neck injuries.
Dr Caroline Heggie, an A&E consultant, testified that Pearson made a notable remark during treatment, stating: "He said 'I've been trying to get rid of her for a while'." A subsequent psychiatric evaluation found no evidence of mental illness.
The court reviewed an audio recording of the couple, where Ms Leveque confronted Pearson about a alleged assault on her birthday.
On that recording, Pearson responded hostilely, saying: "You deserved every bit of it and more.
You're lucky I didn't bash your head in." While she expressed love for him, Ms Leveque also warned that he might kill her.
Pearson attributed her distress to her drinking whisky before the incident, and claimed she overheard him discussing her alcohol use with her father from Canada.
He stated she became angry, assaulted him, and grabbed a nearby knife, after which she allegedly jumped into a hot tub and stabbed herself.
Pearson expressed ongoing love for Ms Leveque despite the tragic events.
Her cousin, Hope Ingram, paid tribute to her, describing her as a bubbly and lively girl who brightened every room.
She expressed heartbreak over her loss but also hopes to remember her positively, noting her adventurous spirit.
Detective Inspector Richard Baird condemned Pearson’s violence, emphasizing that the attack was profoundly brutal.
He highlighted evidence of a controlling and abusive relationship, with Pearson attempting to degrade and harm Ms Leveque prior to her death.
The officer concluded by saying that while justice has been served, it can’t undo what happened, but he hopes it provides some closure for her family.
