Defence advocate gives speech to jurors in Nat Fraser murder trial

Arlene Fraser: Final stages of trial under way.

The defence speech in the trial of Nat Fraser who is accused of murdering his wife 14 years ago has begun.

Mr Fraser, 53, denies murdering his 33-year-old wife Arlene Fraser, who vanished from Elgin, Moray, in 1998.

John Scott QC is addressing the jury at the High Court in Edinburgh on Monday.

Advocate depute Alex Prentice QC, prosecuting, said in his closing speech on Friday that Mr Fraser had "instigated and organised" his wife's murder.

He said she was murdered because she tried to leave her possessive, controlling husband.

But Mr Prentice QC said Fraser did not kill her, he got someone else to do it.

The prosecutor recalled how a friend of Arlene had told how Fraser threatened: "If you are not going to live with me you are not going to be living with anyone."

Those "chilling, prophetic words" summed up the case, Mr Prentice said.

The jury is expected to be sent out to consider its verdict on Tuesday.

It is alleged Fraser strangled his wife or murdered her "by other means to the prosecutor unknown".

Fraser claims that if his wife was murdered, the man responsible could be Hector Dick. He has lodged defences of alibi and incrimination.

The trial continues.

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