Shona Stevens: Man in court charged with murder of Irvine woman in 1994

A man has appeared in court charged with the murder of a woman more than 30 years ago.

Shona Stevens, 31, suffered serious injuries after being attacked near her home in Irvine, North Ayrshire, in November 1994. She died in hospital three days later.

The mother-of-one's family has never given up their campaign for justice, and in November last year a £20,000 reward was offered by Crimestoppers for information that could help catch and convict her killer.

On Friday, Police Scotland announced its Major Investigation Team had arrested a man in connection with the case.

Suspect Fraser Kilpatrick, 67, was charged the following day and appeared before Kilmarnock Sheriff Court on Monday.

Kilpatrick, of Glasgow, made no plea to the single charge of murder. He is due back in the dock within the next eight days.

Detective Chief Inspector Stuart Gillies 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 greatly contributed to our investigation."

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Ms Stevens was attacked on 10 November 1994.

After leaving Bourtreehill shopping centre, she was last seen walking alone on Towerlands Road at about 1.10pm.

Ten minutes later, she was discovered seriously injured in a wooded area to the rear of Alder Green, nearly 200 metres from her home.

Ms Stevens died in hospital on 13 November 1994.

Appealing for fresh information last year, her daughter Candice and mother Mhairi Smith said: "There is not a day that goes by that she is not in our thoughts and in our hearts."

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