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| Nat Fraser found guilty for second time of murdering wife Arlene in 1998 | Nat Fraser found guilty for second time of murdering wife Arlene in 1998 |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Nat Fraser has been jailed for a minimum of 17 years after being found guilty for the second time of murdering his estranged wife Arlene in 1998. | Nat Fraser has been jailed for a minimum of 17 years after being found guilty for the second time of murdering his estranged wife Arlene in 1998. |
| Fraser, 53, denied being behind the disappearance of his 33-year-old wife from Elgin, Moray. | Fraser, 53, denied being behind the disappearance of his 33-year-old wife from Elgin, Moray. |
| He was found guilty in 2003 and jailed for at least 25 years, but started a long appeal process which finally saw his conviction quashed last year. | He was found guilty in 2003 and jailed for at least 25 years, but started a long appeal process which finally saw his conviction quashed last year. |
| A six-week retrial took place at the High Court in Edinburgh. | A six-week retrial took place at the High Court in Edinburgh. |
| The jury had retired on Tuesday, and resumed their deliberations on Wednesday morning. | |
| The jurors took a total of about five hours to reach a majority verdict, deleting the allegation that Mrs Fraser had been strangled. | |
| The verdict was greeted with a slight shake of the head by Fraser, and a wiping of his brow. | |
| Relatives of Mrs Fraser express relief. | |
| Fraser was told he would have to serve 17 years in prison before he could apply for parole. | Fraser was told he would have to serve 17 years in prison before he could apply for parole. |
| 'Wicked' nature | |
| Judge Lord Bracadale told Fraser: "The evidence indicated that at some point you arranged for someone to kill your wife, Arlene, and dispose of her body. | |
| "Thus you instigated in cold blood the pre-meditated murder of your wife and mother of your children, then aged 10 and five years. | |
| "The murder and disposal of the body must have been carried out with ruthless efficiency, for there is not a trace of Arlene Fraser from that day to this and her bereft family continue to live with no satisfactory knowledge of what happened to her remains." | |
| The judge said the "shocking and wicked" nature of the crime demanded a sentence well in excess of 20 years. | |
| However, because of the "procedural history" of the case, the sentence was cut to 17 years, backdated to June last year. | |
| Mrs Fraser was last seen on 28 April, 1998, after waving her two children off to school. | Mrs Fraser was last seen on 28 April, 1998, after waving her two children off to school. |
| Hitman claim | Hitman claim |
| The trial heard claims Fraser's motive was that his wife was leaving him, and that she had seen a lawyer about getting a pay-off. | The trial heard claims Fraser's motive was that his wife was leaving him, and that she had seen a lawyer about getting a pay-off. |
| Fraser claimed that if his wife was murdered, the man responsible could be Hector Dick, who gave evidence for the prosecution. | Fraser claimed that if his wife was murdered, the man responsible could be Hector Dick, who gave evidence for the prosecution. |
| Advocate depute Alex Prentice QC, prosecuting, said in his closing speech that Fraser had "instigated and organised" his wife's murder. | Advocate depute Alex Prentice QC, prosecuting, said in his closing speech that Fraser had "instigated and organised" his wife's murder. |
| It was claimed he had hired a hitman. | It was claimed he had hired a hitman. |
| However, John Scott QC, defending, said the case was "blighted by hindsight and assumption" and argued much of the Crown evidence was "unreliable". | However, John Scott QC, defending, said the case was "blighted by hindsight and assumption" and argued much of the Crown evidence was "unreliable". |
| 'Such courage' | 'Such courage' |
| The disappearance of Mrs Fraser became one of the biggest ever investigations for Grampian Police. | The disappearance of Mrs Fraser became one of the biggest ever investigations for Grampian Police. |
| Det Ch Supt Campbell Thomson said: "Our immediate thoughts are obviously with Arlene's family. | Det Ch Supt Campbell Thomson 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." | "Hector, Cathy, Isabelle, Bill, Carol and Steven have shown such courage throughout the last 14 years." |
| David Harvie, director of serious casework at the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, said: "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." | David Harvie, director of serious casework at the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, said: "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." |