Fraser 'left children motherless for money'

Published on 28/01/2003 00:00

THE husband of the missing woman Arlene Fraser was accused yesterday of leaving their children without a mother, all for "a wee bit of money".

Nat Fraser rejected suggestions that he had done "a terrible thing" and arranged for the murder of his wife rather than pay a divorce settlement.

He was urged by the prosecution to give up the "futile hope" of avoiding responsibility, but he told the jury: "I never did anything".

Fraser, 44, conceded that on his account of events, it could look as though everyone was lying but him.

The High Court in Edinburgh also heard senior police officers give conflicting evidence from that of the Crown’s key witness, whom the defence maintain has lied to escape a charge of being involved in the murder.

Mrs Fraser, 33, disappeared from her home in Smith Street, New Elgin, Moray, in April 1998. Hector Dick, 46, a former friend of Fraser, has alleged that Fraser told him he paid a "hit-man from down south" to strangle Mrs Fraser. Dick also claimed the accused disposed of the body by burning it and crushing and scattering the remains.

During a second day in the witness box, Fraser said Mr Dick’s allegations were lies and that he had made a statement to police one day, while still in the dock charged with involvement in the murder, and then been released the next.

Fraser also insisted that Hector McInnes, his father-in-law, had lied by claiming that in the first few days after Mrs Fraser went missing, Fraser stated: "The children will soon forget their mother". It was yet another lie to suggest, he added, that he had said to his wife that if she was not going to live with him, she would not be living with anyone.

Alan Turnbull, QC, the advocate depute, said: "It is not you lying, but somebody else ... this is beginning to build up to a bit of a pattern."

Fraser replied: "You are trying to make it into a pattern."

Mr Turnbull continued: "Your answer is, ‘Everybody is lying except me’." Fraser said: "It seems like it."

Mr Turnbull suggested that Mr Dick had stood by Fraser until it became clear Fraser was prepared to see his friend stand trial for murder, rather than admit his own responsibility. "No, that is a lie," said Fraser.

The advocate depute went on: "The truth is that you have done a terrible thing ... you have taken the life of the woman you promised you would live with for ever."

Fraser said: "No, I have not."

Mr Turnbull: "You have done more even than that, because you have destroyed the lives of your wife’s family."

Fraser: "No, I did not."

Mr Turnbull: "You have done more even than that because you have taken from your own children the life of their mother."

Fraser: "No, I did not."

Mr Turnbull: "All for greed and a wee bit of money."

Fraser: "No".

Mr Turnbull: "Do you not think it is now time to give up this futile hope that somehow you can avoid responsibility for what you did?"

Fraser: "I never did anything."

Mr Turnbull: "Because the evidence makes it perfectly plain that you were responsible for the death of your wife."

Fraser: "I was not."

One piece of evidence relied on by Mr Turnbull was the appearance in the house of Mrs Fraser’s engagement, wedding and eternity rings several days after she vanished.

He suggested Fraser had returned them, showing he had access to the body. "I certainly did not," Fraser said.

After Fraser left the witness box, Mr Dick was recalled to be questioned further about a car which is believed to have been used in Mrs Fraser’s murder.

He denied that in early October 1999, he had said to the police: "I know what you are after. The car is 70 per cent gettable and the body 50 per cent."

Detective Chief Inspector Ian Japp said the remark had been made and was "very much" unprompted. "I am clear he said that," he added.

Robert Mackay, a retired detective sergeant, added: "I can assure everybody in this court that that is exactly what he said to me and my colleague."

The trial continues.