Man arrested over death of Shona Stevens more than 30 years ago

Times

4 days ago

A man has been arrested in connection with the murder of a mother who died after a savage attack near her home more than three decades ago.
Shona Stevens, 31, died in hospital three days after she suffered severe head injuries in Irvine, North Ayrshire, in the afternoon of November 10, 1994. Her daughter was seven years old at the time.
Despite a series of high-profile appeals aimed at solving the case, no one has ever been brought to justice.
However, police announced on Friday that they had made a breakthrough, and a 67-year-old man was arrested in connection with her death.
Appeals and a televised reconstruction of Stevens's movements were made in the search for her killer
POLICE SCOTLAND
Detective Chief Inspector Stuart Gillies, the senior investigating officer on the case for Police Scotland, said: 'I would like to thank the members of the local community who assisted us in our enquiries. I am grateful for their information and input which contributed to our investigation.'
Stevens, a student at Paisley University, now known as the University of the West of Scotland, was found with severe head injuries on a path behind Alder Green in the Bourtreehill Park area of Irvine.
She was attacked shortly after she left the Co-op shop in Bourtreehill shopping centre and was last seen alone at about 1.10pm on Towerlands Road. She was found just ten minutes later about 200 yards from her home.
Over the years, several appeals were made to find her killer, including a reconstruction of her movements before she was attacked.
Stevens's daughter, Candice, made an appeal for information on Crimewatch Live earlier this year
Last year on the 30th anniversary of her death, a reward of up to £20,000 was offered by Crimestoppers for information leading to prosecution.
In March, her daughter Candice, 38, made an emotional appeal for information on the BBC's Crimewatch Live programme.
She said: 'My mum was my inspiration. Every moment I got to spend with her I cherished and I only wish I could have known her as an adult. I have tried to follow her ideals. She was incredibly bright, academic, multi-talented and just such a beautiful person.
'I was seven years old when I lost my mum. When I saw her coffin that's when it hit me that she was gone.'
She said her mother's death had 'impacted every facet of my life', and added: 'It's been 30 years. My mum deserves justice, my gran is 90 years old and she deserves justice and so do I.'
Police released images of a keyring toy found at the scene in the hopes that it might lead to clues in the case
POLICE SCOTLAND/PA
Previously, Stevens's mother, Mhairi Smith, had appealed for information.
She said: 'I cannot emphasise enough how important even the smallest piece of information could be in being able to give me and my family closure.
'I want to know who was responsible for this attack and why they did it.'
In 2021, Police Scotland released images of an unusual novelty figure found at the scene at the time of the initial search, which had not been previously revealed to the public.
The semi-naked cartoon-style figure is 8mm tall and officers believe it may have broken off a keyring.