The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Arlene trial told accused was ‘shaking’
Court: Nat Fraser ‘paced around’ on the day his wife disappeared
A man accused of murdering his estranged wife was pacing around and his hands were shaking on the day she disappeared, a court has heard.
Fruit and vegetable wholesaler Nat Fraser seemed very uneasy when he visited a customer on the day in question more than 14 years ago, a witness told police.
By the next day his mood had changed and he did not seem unduly concerned, the High Court in Edinburgh heard. Witness Sandra Stewart told officers: “He appeared more concerned about possible consequences for himself.”
Fraser, 53, denies acting with others to murder his wife Arlene Fraser, who was 33 when she vanished from her home at New Elgin on April 28, 1998.
Retired restaurateur Ms Stewart, 64, said Fraser supplied the Elgin business and visited her t hat day as part of a normal routine. “He was quieter than he had been, but then he had been quieter for a fewweeks prior to that,” she told the court.
“I think we poured coffee forhim. Idon’trememberif he drank it.”
Prosecutor Alex Prentice QC drew her attention to a statement she gave police in May 1998, regarding the time Arlene went missing.
Referring to the visit she received on April 28, she told officers: “During this time I noted that Nat appeared very uneasy. Hewas agitated and paced around the public area.
“After a couple of minutes he eventually settled at the serving counter where I was standing. He leaned on the counter with his elbows and I could see his hands were shaking.”
Mrs Stewart said she did not remember making the statement but agreed she would have told the truth.
Fraser and his colleague were late arriving the next day, the court heard.
Mrsstewart told police: “Nat came bouncing in saying, ‘Have you seen the paper? He said, ‘she’s gone missing’.
“His mood had changed from the previous day, in that he was not unduly concerned. He appeared more concerned about possible consequences for himself.”
In other evidence, the court heard Fraser was making routine deliveries on the day his wife disappeared and he was never out of sight for more than a few minutes.
Forklift driver Grant Fraser, 32, fromelgin– who is not related to the accused – said in the early part of 1998 he worked for Fraser’s business as a “lorry boy”.
He said he visited several service stations, shops and restaurants in Elgin during the course of the morning of Tuesday, April 28, accompanied by Fraser. Later he made deliveries at Fochabers and Keith.
Mr Prentice asked: “Through the whole process was Mr Fraser in your company?”
“Yes he was,” replied the witness.
“Should we understand that if he was out of your sight it would only be for minutes. Otherwise, hewas there continuously?” Mr Prentice went on.
Mr Fraser agreed. He also told how the accused made a telephone call from a phonebox during one of the morning stops.
Hazel Walker later told howshe would receive calls on an almost daily basis from Fraser in April that year after she got talking to him at a local hotel. They spoke on the day his wife disappeared but he never rang her again after that.
Mrs Walker told police: “Nat has told me that if he and his wife got divorced, she will be well-off. He also said she was wanting more than half of everything.”
The trial also heard how police conducted a “massive” search to try to find Mrs Fraser’s remains. Despite their efforts, no trace of the mother-of-two was ever found. The trial, before Lord Bracadale, continues. Nat Fraser is accused of killing his wife between April 28 and May 7, 1998, at 2 Smith Street, Elgin, or at an unknown location.
He denies he compressed her neck and strangled her or, by other unknown means, assaulted and murdered her while acting along with another, or others unknown.
It is alleged Fraser knew his wife had consulted a lawyer with a view to divorcing him and obtaining a financial settlement.
He is accused of taking a series of steps in the spring of 1998 after learning that.
It is alleged that between March 26 and April 27, 1998, at Wester Hillside Farm, Mosstowie, he arranged for the “surreptitious” purchase of a car with a boot.
He is also accused of buying and hiding a car at the same farm on April 27, 1998, aided by Hector Dick, who lived there, and Kevin Ritchie.
He is also alleged to have set fire to another car at 2 Smith Street on April 4, 1998.
Fraser has lodged special defences of alibi and incrimination.
His alibi states he was at work making deliveries from about 7.30am on April 28, 1998.
The special defence of incrimination states if the alleged crime occurred then it was committed not by Fraser but by Mr Dick, acting with another or others unknown.