Police ScotlandA man accused of murdering his girlfriend in a hot tub was like a “zombie”, a court has heard.
Aren Pearson, 41, allegedly killed Claire Leveque – who was 24 and originally from Canada – in Shetland.
The High Court in Edinburgh heard that his late mother, Hazel Pearson, had told detectives he did not look like her son, but was instead “just like the way a zombie looks”.
The evidence was heard on the second day of proceedings against the Canadian citizen, who denies murdering Ms Leveque last February, alongside six other charges.
The court heard that Ms Pearson – who died in May – told police what she witnessed on the evening of 11 February 2024.
She had said: “Aren walked into the kitchen and came back with a small black handled kitchen knife.
“Aren then started stabbing himself to the front of his neck. He was bleeding badly. Aren stated to me he had hurt Claire.
“Claire was within the hot tub – the water was red with blood. Claire was covered with blood. She had severe injuries to her face.”
Ms Pearson told officers that, after discovering Ms Leveque, she phoned 999.
She also told police her son said he had driven his car into the sea.
PC Kevin Simpson told the court that he was one of the first officers to arrive.
Prosecutor Margaret Barron asked what Mr Pearson had said, and the officer replied: “Murderers are to be killed…put a bullet in me”.
At the start of proceedings on Tuesday, jurors were read a statement of evidence which the prosecution and defence agreed was proven and uncontroversial.
The jurors heard that the cause of death was established as “stab wounds of the 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.
