Man to stand trial for 1994 murder of North Ayrshire woman

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 20 Oct, 12:43 · Archive

Fraser Kilpatrick is to stand trial for the 1994 murder of Shona Stevens in North Ayrshire.

Fraser Kilpatrick is to stand trial for the murder of Shona Stevens in North Ayrshire more than 30 years ago. Kilpatrick, now 68, allegedly killed Stevens, 31, by striking her with a hammer or similar weapon near her home in Irvine in November 1994. Stevens, a mother of one and a student at what was then the University of Paisley, was attacked in Bourtreehill Park after visiting a nearby shop. She suffered severe head injuries and died three days later in hospital.

Kilpatrick was charged over her death last year and also faces 15 other charges including the rape of a woman and a young girl between 1986 and 2001. He denies all the claims. The trial will begin in January 2028 at the High Court in Glasgow and is expected to last about 17 days, with a further hearing scheduled for December this year. Police launched Operation Short in 2021 to reinvestigate the case, which had remained unsolved for 31 years and featured on BBC Crimewatch.

How it is being reported

• Man accused of murdering Ayrshire woman over 30 years ago faces trial in 2028Shona Stevens was left so severely injured that she died on November 13, 1994, at the Southern General Hospital in Glasgow.Glasgow Live · 20 Oct, 12:42
• Man to stand trial over murder of woman in 1994Fraser Kilpatrick is accused of killing Shona Stevens close to her home in North Ayrshire 32 years ago.BBC Glasgow And West · 20 Oct, 11:45

In this story: Fraser Kilpatrick · Shona Stevens · Irvine · North Ayrshire · High Court in Glasgow

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem