Man jailed for girlfriend's hot tub murder set to appeal

A man jailed for life after being found guilty of murdering his girlfriend in a hot tub in Shetland is set to appeal.

Aren Pearson, 41, was convicted of stabbing 24-year-old Claire Leveque to death at his mother's home in Sandness on 11 February last year.

Pearson had denied murder and claimed in court that Ms Leveque had stabbed herself - but a jury found him guilty after a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh earlier this month.

A notice of intention to appeal the conviction and sentence has been lodged.

The couple - both from Canada - had moved to Scotland in 2023.

Ms Leveque was stabbed more than 25 times on her neck and chest during the attack.

Pearson claimed she had lost her temper after hearing him speak to her father in Canada about how much alcohol she was drinking.

Judge Lord Arthurson described it as a crime of "exceptional depravity" and "feral butchery".

He said Pearson's evidence in court was "malicious" and "fabricated".

He was ordered to serve a minimum of 25 years in prison before he is eligible for parole.

Police said Pearson had a "controlling and violent" relationship with Ms Leveque, and had attempted to degrade and abuse her before the murder.

"The level of violence Aren Pearson inflicted is truly horrifying," said Det Insp Richard Baird.

The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) told BBC Scotland News the court had received a notice of intention to appeal against conviction and sentence.