Aren Pearson to Face Trial for Alleged Murder of Partner

A man is scheduled to stand trial, accused of his partner’s murder in Shetland. Aren Pearson, 40, faces charges of killing Claire Leveque, who was 24 and originally from Canada, before allegedly informing her family that she was in good health. The alleged attack on Ms. Leveque reportedly took place on 11 February at a garage connected to a property in Sandness, Shetland. The trial is set to begin in October next year at the High Court in Edinburgh. The murder charge specifies that Mr. Pearson repeatedly struck Miss Leveque on the head, neck, and body with a knife or knives. She is also reported to have sustained blunt force trauma by unknown means. Prosecutors further assert that Mr. Pearson compressed his partner’s neck and submerged her head and body in water. Mr. Pearson is also facing a separate charge of attempting to defeat the ends of justice. It is claimed that after the alleged killing, he told one of her relatives he had booked flights for her return to Canada. Additional charges include an allegation that he drove a vehicle into the sea. The case was called for a hearing at the High Court in Glasgow. Mr. Pearson’s defence counsel Iain Paterson KC stated: “He is pleading not guilty to all the charges on the indictment.” Both Mr. Paterson and prosecutor Margaret Barron mentioned that a “quite extensive” joint minute of agreed evidence was being discussed in preparation for the trial. The case is estimated to last approximately eight days.