Prosecution closes case in trial of man accused of killing estranged wife

The prosecution has closed its case in the trial of a man accused of murdering his estranged wife 14 years ago.

Alex Prentice QC made the announcement on Monday, almost a month after Nat Fraser's trial began at the High Court in Edinburgh.

The jury heard that evidence will now be led for the defence starting on Monday afternoon.

Fruit and vegetable wholesaler Fraser, 53, denies acting with others to murder his wife Arlene, 33.

He has lodged the special defence of alibi and incrimination.

The mother-of-two, of Smith Street, New Elgin, Moray, vanished on April 28, 1998.

Earlier, one of Mrs Fraser's friends told the court about a conversation she had with the alleged victim which concerned her. Marion Taylor said the exchange was close to the date when Mrs Fraser disappeared.

The 52-year-old told the trial: "She said that Nat had said to her if she wasn't going to live with him she wouldn't be living with anybody."

Ms Taylor, of Mosstodloch, near Elgin, said she got to know Mrs Fraser around six months before she went missing. She became aware that she was having difficulties in her marriage and that Mrs Fraser had said it was over in the spring of 1998.

Ms Taylor added: "She was going to go to the solicitor and ask if Nat could have equal custody (of the children)."

The jury was also read a joint minute setting out agreed facts in the case. They heard that Arlene and Nat Fraser jointly held a life insurance policy with a death benefit of £100,000.

Fraser also borrowed library books on Scots law and family law in March and early April of 1998. They made no reference to the evidence in any specific murder trial. The court also heard that when Fraser was charged by police with the murder of his wife, he replied: "I'll plead not guilty to it."

More About Nat Fraser

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