‘You are going to kill me’

A woman allegedly murdered by her boyfriend said she loved him before adding: “You are going to kill me”, a court has heard.

Claire Leveque, 24, made the remarks in a recording of a conversation she had with her partner, Aren Pearson, sometime before her death.

Mr Pearson, 41, denies murdering Miss Leveque in a hot tub at his mother’s home in Sandness, Shetland, on 11 February last year.

On the fourth day of the trial, prosecutors produced a six-minute long audio recording of a conversation between the Canadian citizens.

Before it was played the judge, Lord Arthurson, told people who were sitting in the public gallery that they could leave the court if they were upset.

Jurors then heard the deceased tell Mr Pearson that he hit her three times on her 24th birthday.

Speaking about the alleged abuse, Mr Pearson told her: “You deserved every bit of it and more. You’re lucky I didn’t bash your head in.”

Jurors also heard Miss Leveque tell the accused: “I love you” before she later added: “You are going to kill me.”

Earlier in the day, jurors heard evidence about what happened when police questioned Mr Pearson.

The court was told that during an interview a detective asked him: “Did you murder Claire Leveque?”

The accused replied: “To the best of my knowledge, no.”

Prosecutors also led evidence about text messages sent by Mr Pearson from Scotland to Miss Leveque’s father, Clint, in Canada.

In the messages, Mr Pearson told Mr Leveque that he was giving his girlfriend $250,000 (£188,000) and was sending her on “business class” flight.

He said he had come into a “stupid” amount of money.

Mr Pearson wrote: “Can I send her please to you?”

He added: “The second I turn my back she drinks. She has upset my mother beyond belief. My hands are tied.”

The accused also told Mr Leveque: “I can’t handle that level of stupid.”

He then told Miss Leveque’s father that he had booked “flights” from Sumburgh Airport in Shetland.

He said they would “pass through” Amsterdam before arriving in Halifax, in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.

Mr Pearson faces a total of seven charges.

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.

On Friday afternoon, prosecutor Margaret Barron told the court that the Crown case against Pearson had concluded.

The trial, before Lord Arthurson, continues.