**Shetland Murder: Man Jailed for 25 Years After Stabbing** A man has been sentenced to a minimum of 25 years in prison for the murder of his girlfriend in a hot tub in Shetland. Aren Pearson, 41, was found guilty of stabbing Claire Leveque, 24, 26 times at his mother’s home in Sandness on 11 February 2024. The High Court in Edinburgh heard that Pearson inflicted 19 of the stab wounds to Claire’s face and neck. The attack followed a history of domestic abuse, which Pearson had allegedly perpetrated against Claire, who had moved from Canada to Scotland. During the trial, jurors were presented with a recording of a 999 call made by Pearson’s mother, Hazel, who described the scene as "full of blood". She told the operator, "She’s bleeding and she’s dying in a hot tub in the shed." Pearson confessed to emergency services that he had stabbed Claire "about 40 times" and admitted to self-harm, stating, "I stabbed myself in the neck four times." He also claimed to have driven his Porsche into the ocean after the incident. Despite his confessions, Pearson attempted to shift the blame during the trial, alleging that Claire had stabbed herself. This claim caused distress to Claire’s family, who had travelled from North America to attend the proceedings. The court heard evidence of a tumultuous relationship, including a recorded conversation where Claire confronted Pearson about physical abuse. In one exchange, she said, "You beat the sh*t out of me on my 24th birthday," to which Pearson responded, "You deserved every bit of it and more." Defence counsel Iain Paterson KC stated that there was nothing to mitigate Pearson’s actions. He added that Pearson had expressed remorse, saying, "not a day goes by where he does not think about February 11 2024 without sadness." Judge Lord Arthurson confirmed that Pearson would serve at least 25 years before being eligible for parole, highlighting the severity of the crime and the impact on Claire’s family. The case has drawn attention to issues of domestic violence and the tragic consequences it can have. Pearson’s actions have left a lasting impact on the lives of those who knew Claire.