A Canadian father is shell-shocked after learning his 24-year-old daughter was killed in Scotland and her boyfriend has been charged with murder.
According to Scottish police, Claire Leveque was killed in the Sandness area of the Shetland Islands, a remote archipelago in the northern United Kingdom. It has a population of roughly 23,000.
“This is the sickest thing you could possibly imagine,” said father Clint Leveque.
Claire is originally from Westlock, Alta., a small community approximately 90 kilometres north of Edmonton.
Her father said she travelled to the Shetland Islands late last year with her boyfriend, Aren Pearson, who is from the area.
The Crown Office in Scotland said Pearson, who has a local address, has been charged with murder. He appeared in court on Thursday.
The pair met in Edmonton and started dating last summer, according to her father.
In a press release, Scottish police said officers responded to a report of a disturbance earlier this week and pronounced Leveque dead at the scene.
Scottish court records show that Pearson made no plea, was remanded into custody and is expected to make another court appearance in the coming week.
‘Things aren’t really adding up,’ says woman’s father
For Clint, there are many unanswered questions.
He said he received strange text messages Sunday from Pearson, indicating something was wrong in the relationship and that flights were booked for the couple to return to Canada.
“Things aren’t really adding up,” he said.
For now, Clint said he is focused on the positive things about his daughter in this dark situation.
“Being happy and doing things that she loved doing and being with people,” he said.
He is, however, clear about his long-term goal: “I just want justice.”
Clint Leveque is hoping for justice in the case of his 24-year-old daughter. (CBC)
Video from BBC News aired on Thursday showed police officers and police tape around a residence on the Shetland Islands; it also shows a damaged vehicle being pulled from the water.
Police would not say what happened with the vehicle, only that a man, who they described as the 39-year-old suspect, was taken to hospital.
“This has been a huge shock for the small and close-knit community of Sandness. I’d like to send my sincere condolences to the family and everyone concerned,” said local councillor Liz Peterson.
Global Affairs Canada told CBC News that it is aware of the death of a Canadian citizen in Scotland.
“Consular officials are contacting local authorities to obtain additional information. Due to privacy considerations, no further information can be disclosed,” said spokesperson Grantly Franklin.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — New Zealand won the Women’s T20 World Cup for the first time, beating South Africa by 32 runs on Sunday after a standout performance from Amelia Kerr with bat and ball.
South Africa’s chase was held to 126-9 in 20 overs at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in reply to New Zealand’s 158-5 in the final of the 18-day tournament.
South Africa was also seeking to become a first-time champion.
After South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt won the toss and opted to bowl, Kerr top scored for New Zealand with a 38-ball 43. Brooke Halliday hit 38 runs in 28 deliveries and opener Suzie Bates scored 32 in 31. Nonkululeko Mlaba took 2-31 in four overs for South Africa.
South Africa made a strong start to its chase, reaching 51-1 in 6.5 overs but never really threatened afterward, reaching the halfway stage of its innings at 64-3.
Wolvaardt top scored for South Africa with a 27-ball 33.
Kerr took 3-24 in her four overs, including Wolvaardt’s wicket.
This was South Africa’s second straight final appearance in the tournament. Losing to Australia by 19 runs, it had finished runners-up in its home tournament in 2023, its best result in the tournament.
New Zealand, meanwhile, reached the tournament final for the first time since 2010. In the first two editions – 2009 and 2010 – it had lost to England by six wickets in London, and to Australia by three runs in Barbados.
SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Sunday canceled his trip to Russia for a BRICS summit after an accident at home that left him with a cut in the neck, his office said.
The 78-year-old leader was scheduled to attend a summit of the BRICS bloc of developing economies in the city of Kazan from Tuesday to Thursday this week.
Hospital Sirio Libanês in Sao Paulo said in a statement that the leftist leader was instructed not to take long distance trips, but can keep his other activities. Doctors Roberto Kalil and Ana Heleno Germoglio said they will regularly check on Lula’s recovery.
Brazil’s presidency said in a separate statement that Lula will take part in the summit by videoconference and will continue his work in capital Brasilia this week. It did not disclose details about what caused the president’s injury.
