Man arrested in connection with death of Shona Stevens in 1994

Police have arrested a man in connection with the unsolved murder of mum over three decades ago.

Shona Stevens was found badly beaten just 200 yards from her home in the Bourtreehill Park area of Irvine on November 10, 1994.

The mum-of-one had visited the Co-op store within the Bourtreehill Shopping Centre around 1pm on the day of the attack before leaving on foot and was last seen alone around 1.10pm on Towerlands Road.

Shona was then discovered injured yards from her home within a wooded area just ten minutes later. She died in hospital days later.

Police confirmed on Friday that a 67-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the death.

Detective chief inspector Stuart Gillies, senior investigating officer on the case, 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.”

Three decades unsolved

Detectives previously revealed key evidence found at the scene including a novelty keyring featuring a cartoon figure of a man wearing a red waist coat, blue tie and no trousers.

Investigators said they believed the “distinctive” key ring belonged to the killer.

In a joint statement on the 30th anniversary of the murder, Shona’s mother Mhairi Smith and her daughter Candice Stevens, who was just seven when her mum was killed, said: “We still want justice for Shona, and your help would be greatly appreciated.

“We know it has been 30 years since Shona was taken from us but to us it seems like only yesterday. There is not a day that goes by that she is not in our thoughts and in our hearts.