The bizarre day I was taken aback by smiling murderer
I asked, ‘Did you murder Arlene?’ He turned white and was shaken
NAT Fraser had been bailed the day before on May 13, 2006.
At the time I was working for our sister paper, the Sunday Mail, and I had been dispatched to Elgin along with the rest of the Scottish media pack. We all had one goal - to speak to Fraser.
He’d been bailed pending his appeal over his conviction for killing Arlene and had served just three years of a minimum 25-year sentence.
When I got to his house with a photographer, the rest of the media hadn’t arrived yet so it was decided I would chap the door anyway.
We knew he was inside with several others.
His long-term friend and one of the men who’d stood alongside him in the dock accused of murder, Glenn Lucas, answered the door.
At first, I was slightly startled as I’d been expecting them to ignore my knock.
Perhaps they’d decided aggression and arrogance wasn’t going to win them any “friends” in the media, so when he stood in front of me, he smiled and politely asked how I was doing.
Slightly taken aback by his attitude, I dismissed his pleasantries and ignored the question. Refusing to beat about the bush, I asked to speak to Fraser.
What followed was an hour-long diatribe by Lucas about how he was innocent, how they’d all been stitched up by the police and how they wanted to get “their” side of the story out.
Lucas and another man, Hector Dick, had seen their charges dropped during the murder trial but he was insistent he had to clear his name properly. And that of his best friend Fraser.
Lucas tried to charm me into feeling sorry for his friend and told me about Fraser’s activities since he’d been released from prison. He spoke of Fraser doing “fatherly” duties and “catching up” with his children in the 24 hours since he’d been home. Perhaps
Fraser got bored of listening behind the door because he then came out.
Lucas was leaning affably against the door and his slightly startled look when Fraser appeared was the giveaway his appearance hadn’t been planned at all.
Instead of speaking, Fraser smiled at me and stood and stared. It wasn’t menacing but it still sent a chill down my spine. Lucas babbled some more and Fraser stood there staring continuously - sizing me up, calculating his next move. If I tried to engage him in conversation, Lucas would answer for him.
It was bizarre. This man had been accused of a horrendous murder - killing the mother of his children - but he seemed content to let his friend dictate the conversation. All he did was stare at me - sometimes smiling to himself.
By this time, more of the media pack had turned up and, becoming more nervous, Lucas said if we let them enjoy their lunch out, they would pose for a picture and give me an exclusive interview. But they became annoyed when other reporters refused and it resulted in a wild 80-mile chase around the Highlands with Fraser, Lucas and the Scottish media.
A few hours later, we arrived back at the house. I followed him into the garden - the rest of the media kept their distance - and said his name. He turned. “Did you murder Arlene?” His face turned white and he seemed shaken by my abruptness. He said: “I think you are rude for even asking me any questions. You are joking. I can’t believe you asked that.” He rushed into the house. I never spoke to Fraser again. In September that year, Lucas died suddenly in his sleep. Following a second trial in 2012, Fraser was told he would serve a minimum of 17 years in prison.