Nat Fraser remains in prison as case adjourned

NAT Fraser will remain in prison while the issue of a re-trial for the murder of his wife Arlene is considered.

Fraser (52) saw his case adjourned until June 8 when he appeared at the Court of Criminal Appeal in Edinburgh (Friday)

Nat Fraser

The move follows Fraser's successful appeal earlier this week to the Supreme Court in London which remitted the case back to the High Court to decide on a re-trial and quash his original murder conviction.

The former fruit and veg businessman was jailed for 25 years in 2003 after being convicted of the murder of his wife Arlene in 1998, who was then aged 33.

She was last seen on April 28 that year and her body has never been recovered.

Fraser's defence team asked for more time to prepare their case in the event of a re-trial.

He will remain in custody at Addiewell Prison in West Lothian while that process takes place.

The Supreme Court ruled that a miscarriage of justice had taken place at Fraser's original trial when the Crown failed to disclose evidence regarding his wife's rings which the chief prosecutor claimed were the cornerstone of the case against him.

Arlene’s sister, Carol Gillies, said: "We don’t want to say too much. We don’t want to jeopardise the case.

"Obviously it is a very difficult time for us just now. We feel as if we have been hit by a London bus.

She continued: "This has been a difficult couple of days for us. There has been a huge amount of publicity.

"We are a very quiet family. We have been thrown into the limelight and I am shaking like a leaf."

Arflene's dad, Hector McInnes (70), added: "Today is obviously an anti-climax but that is how it goes.

"We have had 13 years of this so we are quite used to it," he added.

Meanwhile, Fraser, 52, remains locked up in Addiewell Prison in West Lothian.

Any hopes of an early release were dashed by Scotland’s top judge, Lord Justice General Lord Hamilton, during a brief hearing at the Court of Criminal Appeal, when he announced: "The Appellant will remain in custody."

Defence advocate Chris Shead told the appeal judges: "The Crown do intend to ask the authority of the court for fresh proceedings.

"I think, against that background, it is only fair that the defence have some opportunity to prepare their position in regard to that."

Advocate depute Alex Prentice QC, replied: "The Crown agrees with that proposal."

Lord Hamilton, sitting with Lords Clarke and Marnoch, agreed to the request for a ten day adjournment.

Fraser, unshaven and clearly showing signs of strain sat with arms folded and staring straight ahead of him during the brief hearing. He wore a black tee shirt with spectacles hanging from the neckband and jeans without a belt.

His only gestures were a nod of greeting to his lawyers when he was brought from the cells and a smile and a wave towards one man in the crammed public benches who gave him a thumbs up sign.

Outside the man, former oil worker Anthony Graves (59), who lives in Dufftown described himself as a friend of Fraser.

"I am hoping Nat will walk free. He is not guilty, I know the man," he said.

Lord Hamilton repeated the appeal of the Supreme Court that there should be no discussion of the likely evidence at any new trial which might be ordered.