A new two-part documentary will lay bare the tragic case of Claire Leveque with never-before-seen courtroom footage of a trial that saw her boyfriend accused of her murder
14:53, 27 Apr 2026Updated 16:27, 27 Apr 2026
Claire Leveque was brutally killed in 2023(Image: Channel 5)
A chilling two-part documentary is set to shock viewers with a rare insight into a horrifying murder case thanks to courtroom recordings. Murder In Shetland: Trial By Jury tells the story of the devastating murder of a woman by her boyfriend in a usually quiet coast town.
The two-parter on 5 focuses on the tragic death of 24-year-old Canadian Claire Leveque who had travelled to Scotland’s remote Shetland Islands to be with her boyfriend, Aren Pearson. While she believed she was beginning an exciting adventure, it soon became a nightmare and within months, she was dead.
Pearson choked and stabbed Claire repeatedly in the hot tub of his mother’s home in Sandness on February 11, 2024. Despite denying any wrongdoing, he was found guilty of the brutal crime following a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh in October last year.
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He received a life sentence and was ordered to serve a minimum term of 25 years in prison. Now, viewers will take in a never-before-seen look inside the courtroom as a grieving family and an accused partner collide. The case that rocked the idyllic islands in 2024 allowed cameras to follow the eight-day proceedings that laid bare the final moments of Claire’s life.
The documentary looks at testimony, archive and intimate family access to tell the tragic tale that began just over two years ago. A little over a year after the dream move, Pearson stood accused of the murder of his partner at Edinburgh’s High Court.
Advocate Depute Margaret Barron had spent over a year preparing the complex case since Claire’s death. And viewers will watch her outline the Crown’s account of Claire’s final hours and begins to present the evidence against the accused.
Secret recordings made by Claire and the emergency call made in the immediate aftermath of the killing are aired in a damning case. But while Pearson appeared to provide a remarkable admission on the call – telling officers exactly what happened – he continued to maintain his innocence.
In Scotland, the Crown cannot solely rely on a single piece of evidence. Under Scottish law, it must corroborate its case beyond reasonable doubt.
The grim reality behind Claire’s tragic fate becomes more evident through forensic evidence, leaving a jury confronted by the terrifying ordeal she must have faced. Pearson, while trying to deny any responsibility, was met with intense questioning. Further chilling evidence was presented, with the courtroom visibly left in tears.
Judge Lord Arthurson described the crime as “a sustained episode of feral butchery”. He went on to pay tribute to the “dignity and restraint” shown by Miss Leveque’s family, who attended every day of harrowing proceedings.
Speaking of the production, Guy Davies, Consultant Editor for Commissioning at 5 said: “This thoughtful series gives a deeply human account of an unimaginable tragedy. It shines a light on the justice process and honours the courage of Claire’s family as they seek truth and remembrance.”
Murder In Shetland: Trial By Jury – Monday 27th & 28th April at 9pm on 5
If you’ve been affected by any of the issues raised in this story, organisations including Refuge, New Beginnings Peer Support and Women’s Aid can provide further support and information. The 24-hour, freephone National Domestic Abuse Helpline is 0808 2000 247
