Nat Fraser guilty of murdering estranged wife Arlene 14 years ago

Nat Fraser has been found guilty of murdering his estranged wife Arlene 14 years ago for a second time.

On Wednesday, Fraser was jailed for life and told he must serve a minimum of 17 years before he is eligible for parole after a jury at the High Court in Edinburgh found him guilty by majority after six hours of deliberations.

He acted with others to kill his 33-year-old wife, at their home in Elgin, Moray or elsewhere in Scotland.

The 53-year-old was found guilty of her murder in January 2003 and jailed for life. He appealed the conviction and had it quashed by the Supreme Court in London last year after serving seven years and nine months of his original sentence.

Fraser has always denied murdering his wife in April 1998, entering pleas of alibi and incrimination.

After the verdict, Arlene's mother Isabelle Thompson said in a media conference that Fraser "will never tell us where her body is". The victim's sister Carol Gillies added: "We have gone through two trials we have been witnesses in both. I don't want to know anymore."

Ms Gillies continued: "I can't have a photograph of Arlene in the house I can't look at her smiling because of the horrible things that have happened to her. Every time I hear those words on the radio 'remains have been found' I stop and think it could be Arlene.

"We have lived with this for 14 years - the police have become part of our family."

The former fruit and vegetable wholesaler "instructed, instigated and organised" the pre-meditated killing after his wife began divorce proceedings. The trial heard a claim that he admitted paying a hitman £15,000 to kill her and said his wife's body had been burned.

Mrs Fraser, a mother-of-two, vanished from her home in Smith Street, New Elgin, Moray, on April 28 1998. Her body has never been found.

Judge Lord Bracadale told Fraser today: "The shocking and wicked nature of your involvement in the commission of the crime would merit a lengthy punishment part well in excess of 20 years.

"Having regard to the history of the case, I shall restrict that to a period of 17 years."

He backdated the sentence to June 17 last year.

There were whispered cries of "Yes" from the public gallery as the verdict was delivered.

Mrs Fraser's mother, Isabelle Thompson, sobbed quietly. The victim's sister, Carol Gillies, smiled as the verdict was delivered.

Fraser shook his head slightly and rubbed his brow.

Alan Smith, formerly of Northern Constabulary, worked on the investigation at the time and said he does not think Fraser will ever reveal where Mrs Fraser's body is.

He said: "Nat Fraser planned to kill his wife, he set about that and he went about his business. He carried it out with the help of others. That truly is as evil as it gets.

"I don’t think anything would persuade Nat to give up that secret and I think he will take that secret to his grave. The most important thing in Nat Fraser’s life was, is and always will be Nat Fraser."

David Harvie, Director of serious casework at the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, said:"Today's conviction sees Nat Fraser brought to justice for the murder of his wife Arlene in 1998.

"The Crown is absolutely determined to ensuring that criminals are brought to justice for crimes they have committed, no matter the passage of time nor the legal complexities involved."

Detective Chief Superintendent Campbell Thomson of Grampian Police said: "Our immediate thoughts are obviously with Arlene's family. "Hector, Cathy, Isabelle, Bill, Carol and Steven have shown such courage throughout the last 14 years."

IN DETAIL

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