Murder accused ‘trying to get rid of girlfriend’

A man accused of murdering his girlfriend in a hot tub told a hospital doctor he had been “trying to get rid of her for a while,” a court has heard.

Aren Pearson, 41, allegedly killed Claire Leveque – who was 24 and originally from Canada – in Shetland.

A&E consultant Dr Caroline Heggie treated Mr Pearson for two days following his arrest.

She told the jury at the High Court in Edinburgh that, after being admitted to hospital in Lerwick, Mr Pearson said he had driven his car off a pier and stabbed himself.

Mr Pearson had been taken to the Gilbert Bain Hospital after being detained in connection with the death of his girlfriend.

The jury heard that he said he had stabbed himself in the neck, consumed brake fluid and driven his Porsche car into the water.

This prompted doctors to administer an antidote for the brake fluid.

And they also ordered a CT scan, to investigate his neck injuries.

Prosecutor Margaret Barron asked Dr Heggie: “Did he say something that stuck with you?”

The witness replied: “He said ‘I’ve been trying to get rid of her for a while’.”

Dr Heggie said Mr Pearson was discharged into police custody after being assessed by a psychiatrist who found no evidence of a mood disorder or psychotic illness.

Later, members of the jury were told that a piece of metal found embedded in Ms Leveque’s skull during a post-mortem examination matched the missing tip of a kitchen knife recovered from the garage where she died.

And a forensic pathologist, Dr Robert Ainsworth, told the court that multiple injuries to Ms Leveque’s head and neck included 19 stab wounds.

The evidence was heard on the third day of proceedings against the Canadian citizen, who denies murdering Ms Leveque last February.

The jury has already heard that it was agreed Ms Leveque died as a result of stab wounds to her neck and chest.

Mr Pearson denies compressing her neck and holding her head under water.

He denies six other charges including an allegation he tried to cover up his involvement by sending text messages claiming she was in good health.

The trial, before judge Lord Arthurson, continues.