Man faces trial accused of partner's murder

Claire Leveque died in February

A man is to stand trial charged with the murder of his partner in Shetland.

Aren Pearson, 40, is accused of killing Claire Leveque - who was 24 and originally from Canada - before allegedly telling her family she was in good health.

She was allegedly attacked at a garage linked to a property in Sandness in Shetland on 11 February.

The trial is scheduled to start in October next year at the High Court in Edinburgh.

The murder charge states that Mr Pearson repeatedly struck Miss Leveque on the head, neck and body with a knife or knives.

She is also said to have suffered blunt force trauma by means unknown.

Prosecutors further claim Mr Pearson compressed his partner's neck as well as submerging her head and body in water.

Mr Pearson faces a separate charge of attempting to defeat the ends of justice.

It is claimed that after the alleged killing he told one of her relatives he had booked flights for her return to Canada.

Further charges include a claim he drove a vehicle into the sea.

The case called for a hearing at the High Court in Glasgow.

Mr Pearson's defence counsel Iain Paterson KC said: "He is pleading not guilty to all the charges on the indictment."

Both Mr Paterson and prosecutor Margaret Barron said a "quite extensive" joint minute of agreed evidence was being discussed prior to the trial.

It is estimated that the case could last about eight days.