confirmed

A new documentary has been announced by 5, revealing the devastating impact of a crime that shook two continents

A chilling documentary has been confirmed after a devastating crime, and it will likely leave fans in tears.

5 has announced a compelling two-part documentary series, Trial By Jury: The Killing of Claire Leveque, which offers exclusive access to the murder trial at the Edinburgh High Court that followed the tragic death of the 24-year-old Canadian. The series will also feature Claire’s family as they faced the “harrowing” days of the trial and beyond.

Claire was brutally killed by her boyfriend while living on the Shetland Islands in 2023. Filmed with rare in-court camera access, granted by the Lord Justice General, the chilling events surrounding Claire’s murder will be examined across two hour-long episodes.

The instalments will reveal the “horrific details that shook a close-knit island community in Shetland and left a family in North America heartbroken.”

The case also highlights the profound toll of intimate partners violence, and the challenges of uncovering domestic abuse in rural areas.

Using a fixed in-court rig, Trial By Jury follows the eight-day trial that led to a unanimous guilty verdict and a life sentence with a minimum term of 25 years for Claire’s boyfriend, Aren Pearson.

Judge Lord Arthurson previously described the crime as “a sustained episode of feral butchery”, while paying tribute to the “dignity and restraint” shown by Claire’s family, who travelled from Canada to attend every day of proceedings.

A synopsis for the documentary reads: “From Claire’s small Canadian hometown to the windswept Shetland village where she lived in near-isolation, the documentary pieces together her final months through testimony, archive footage and investigative reporting.

“The series also follows [Claire’s father] Clint and his fiancée, Jenny, as they make an emotional journey to the island to confront their grief.”

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In a statement, Claire’s heartbroken dad, Clint, said: “My little girl was stolen from me. I’ll never get to hug her again, hear her laugh or see her smile. I’ll never see the woman she would have become. She’ll never have the chance to be a mother or grandmother, or to know the love a parent has for their child and know that is the love I have for her.”

Gary Davies, consultant editor for commissioning at 5, added: “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.”

Mark Procter, executive producer for Big Little Fish, echoed the sentiment, saying: “We are profoundly grateful to the Judicial Office for Scotland and to everyone who enabled our access to the trial.

“Above all, we are honoured that the Leveque family have entrusted us to document what happened to Claire. We hope this series serves as a respectful tribute – giving her the voice that was so cruelly taken from her.”

Trial By Jury: The Killing of Claire Leveque will be released 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

March 11 (UPI) — Gen. Joshua Rudd was confirmed by the Senate to lead the National Security Agency and U.S. Cyber Command Tuesday.

Rudd is already the deputy chief of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. The Senate voted to confirm him in a 71-29 vote.

Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., voiced his objections to Rudd because he doesn’t have cybersecurity experience. He had put a procedural hold to block Rudd’s confirmation but the chamber was able to get around it.

“He is not qualified for this job,” Wyden wrote in a letter addressed to President Donald Trump that was submitted to the Congressional Record. “And, when it comes to the cybersecurity of this country, there is simply no time for on-the-job learning. The threat is just too urgent for that. For these reasons, I oppose the nomination.”

The position of NSA director had been vacant since April, when retired Gen. Timothy Haugh and his civilian deputy Wendy Noble were ousted.

Lt. Gen. William Hartman has been acting head and plans to retire when Rudd is sworn in. No date has been announced yet.

“General Rudd is a war hero with a lifetime of service to our nation. He is the right choice to lead the protection of our nation from cyberattacks by Iran, Russia and China,” Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., said in a statement.

During nomination hearings before Senate committees, Rudd defended Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, a data-collection law that is set to expire in April.