Man accused of girlfriend's murder claims she stabbed herself

Aren Pearson said Claire Leveque stabbed herself

A man accused of murdering his girlfriend in a hot tub has said she repeatedly stabbed herself with a knife.

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

He told a jury at the High Court in Edinburgh he witnessed her "plunge" a knife into herself.

Mr Pearson said she had been drinking whisky in the hours leading up to the fatal incident.

Mr Pearson said that Ms Leveque had heard him speaking to her father Clint in Canada about how much alcohol she was consuming.

He told defence counsel Iain Paterson KC that she lost her temper, struck him and grabbed a knife which was lying nearby.

Mr Pearson said she then jumped into a hot tub at a shed at his mother's home.

"She stabbed herself once," he added.

"She looked at me. She looked almost surprised that she didn't feel it.

"She started to scream. She maybe plunged herself four or five times."

Emergency crews were called to the scene

The evidence was heard on the fifth day of proceedings against Mr Pearson.

He said he and Ms Leveque came to Scotland in October 2023.

He told the court that they drank alcohol and would argue with and abuse each other.

He said that they enjoyed being in each other's company but their relationship became "too toxic" when drink was taken.

Mr Pearson told the court that on the day in question they had planned to clean out the hot tub and clean the shed at his mother's house where they spent a lot of time "hanging out".

The accused told Mr Paterson: "We were having a nice afternoon but it turned into a horrible one."

He told the court that Ms Leveque drank alcohol and "started abusing me again".

He said he told her to go to bed.

Claire Leveque, 24, suffered fatal injuries

The court previously heard that Mr Pearson's mother Hazel called 999 after discovering Ms Leveque.

She also told police her son said he had driven his car into the sea.

Mr Pearson said he could not remember doing that and that he had liked his vehicle - a Porshe car.

Mr Pearson added: "I can remember tasting the salt water."

He told the court he must have swum ashore and walked back to his mother's house.

The jury earlier heard an audio recording of a Mr Pearson's mother's 999 call.

They could hear Mr Pearson speaking about what allegedly happened.

He told the court that he could not remember that, or stabbing himself in the neck.

'I did love her'

The jury earlier heard evidence that Mr Pearson told a doctor at Gilbert Bain Hospital in Lerwick that he had been trying to "get rid" of Ms Leveque.

Speaking about this to Mr Paterson, Mr Pearson said: "That's been taken out of context.

"What I meant by that was sending her back to Canada not killing her."

When Mr Paterson asked him whether he could have attacked her after she allegedly struck herself with the knife, Mr Pearson replied: "I suppose so. Anything could have happened."

He also said during evidence: "I did love her. I did. I still do."

Mr Pearson, a Canadian citizen, denies murdering Ms Leveque in February last year.

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.