THE KILLER of a young Irvine mum is still at large - 21 years after she was bludgeoned to death in Bourtreehill.

Police have renewed appeals to the people of Irvine to come forward with any information - big or small - to try and track down the killer of Shona Stevens.

This month marks the 21st anniversary of the murder of the pretty young mum who was beaten to death on a desolate path in broad daylight just yards from her home.

Despite more than two decades of appeals and investigations, no one has ever been caught for her murder.

Shona, 31, lived in Alder Green, Middleton Park, with her mum Mhari Smith and seven-year-old daughter Candice Stevens.

November 10, 1994, began as a day like every other for the family - but ultimately ended in the most brutal and horrendous way, cutting short the life of an innocent young mother.

Shona had popped to the shops at Bourtreehill. An ordinary task on an ordinary day.

As she walked along the path that ran along the back of her home she was pounced upon some time between 1pm and 1.30pm and subjected to an eight minute frenzied attack, experts said at the time. She was just yards from her back door.

Her killer left her beaten, battered and unconscious. She was airlifted from the scene and taken to hospital but medics were unable to save her. She died three days later.

Five weeks after she was killed, Shona’s body was taken to her mother’s hometown of Portree in Skye where she was laid to rest.

Since that fateful day in 1994, so many people close to Shona and involved with the case have moved on or passed away, including Detective Chief Superintendent Bob Lauder, who was leading the case at the time.

Despite 21 years passing by, no one has been arrested for the crime and no motive for the slaying has ever been uncovered.

In the years following her death her devastated mother Mhari devoted her life to keeping Shona’s memory alive - and her case in the public eye.

Mhari also spoke of how she struggled to come to terms with how brutal the attack was.

She said: “I just can’t understand why someone would do that to Shona. Those days seemed like an unreality.

“It was just horrendous and I just felt numb with it all. After Shona’s death I could not let Candice see the pain I really felt. Having her has helped me get on with my life actually.”

But, unable to live so close to the murder scene, Mhari, who had taken custody of little Candice, eventually moved back to her hometown in Skye.

In 2005 – more than 10 years after her death – Shona’s daughter, then aged 18, spoke about the impact her mother’s death had left on her.

She said: “It was like life threw a brick at my face, a 10-tonne brick. I’ve had 11 years of just going over the situation over and over again. I’ve had no peace whatsoever and am reminded constantly.

“Even if the person is caught it won’t change anything, it won’t bring her back, it won’t bring back the life that I crave so much. But at least it will give me some peace. At least the person who did this will be caught and justice will be done.”

In 2011 Police Scotland announced they would be re-opening some of the country’s most brutal and high-profile unsolved cases.

As well as Shona’s murder, detectives set about solving the murder of Greenock teenager Elaine Doyle, 16, whose semi-naked body was found in a lane just 50 yards from her home in Greenock on June 2, 1986. She had been strangled as she made her way home from a disco with friends.

Following new lead, police arrested former soldier John Docherty, 50, from Dunoon, after DNA evidence found on Elaine’s body. He was tried and convicted this year.

Police Scotland confirmed to the Irvine Times that the Shona Stevens case was still active and urged people to cast their minds back two decades to think of any information which might be relevant.

A spokesman said: “Police Scotland continually review all unresolved cases of homicide for opportunities presented by new information or advances in forensic science. If anyone has any information, we would ask that they contact Police Scotland officers on 101.”