Nat Fraser trial: Accused suspected wife Arlene was having affair

Nat Fraser suspected his wife Arlene was having an affair, the court heard

A man accused of murdering his wife told police investigating her disappearance he suspected she was having an affair and had run off with his money, a court has heard.

Nat Fraser, 53, denies murdering Arlene Fraser, who was 33 when she disappeared from New Elgin, Moray, in 1998.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard Mr Fraser told police of his suspicions.

Mr Fraser also denied involvement in his estranged wife's disappearance, the trial was told.

The court heard officers spent hours interviewing the fruit and vegetable salesman after his wife vanished.

The next day - 29 April, 1998 - Mr Fraser told William Robertson, then a detective sergeant with Grampian Police, about his fears.

"Somebody gave me a whisper - I cannot recall who it was - that Arlene was seeing a man," Mr Fraser said.

He told detectives: "I did ask her if she was having a carry on with another man and she just told me 'No' and not to be so stupid but it just festered in my head and kept gnawing at me."

As retired Mr Robertson gave evidence for a second day, the trial heard how Mr Fraser denied involvement.

"I have not caused any harm to my wife and I have not arranged for anyone else to cause her harm," he said.

Possible sightings

Later the trial heard that police attempts to find any trace of Mrs Fraser continued until June last year.

The search even included internet social networking sites.

Det Sgt Gordon Chalmers told how officers had checked friends, businesses, medical records and government agencies without success.

Possible sightings had all been thoroughly investigated, the trial heard.

Police spent hours combing outhouses and other buildings in the Elgin area and asked farmers to check their land for signs of disturbance.

"There is no evidence of her having left home and commencing a new life elsewhere," concluded the police report.

Advocate depute Alex Prentice QC, prosecuting, told the court: "I am confident the Crown case will be closed on Monday."

Mr Fraser claims that if mother-of-two Mrs Fraser was murdered, the man responsible could be Hector Dick.

The trial continues.