A FORENSIC scientist told the Arlene Fraser murder trial today that her spotless home revealed no clues to explain her mystery disappearance.
Although, officially, the Elgin mum of two was a missing person in the early days of the inquiry, Grampian Police treated the house in Smith Street as a crime scene.
Neville Trower (44), who worked as a forensic biologist for 17 years, before quitting the service, said he was looking for blood or signs of disturbance - but there were none.
Although there was a vacuum cleaner in the hall, plugged in but not switched on, there were no signs of an attempted cover-up when he went there on April 28, 1998, the day Arlene (33), vanished.
Mr Trower told the High Court in Edinburgh he was searching for "anything that looked out of place."
The former forensic scientist continued: "This was a very clean house. This was probably extraordinary in the history of crime scenes I have examined."
Advocate depute Alex Prentice QC, prosecuting, suggested: "Despite what we may see on CSI, it is not every crime that leaves a footprint?" Mr Trower agreed.
He also told the trial that he wanted to use a chemical which would show up even tiny traces of blood, even if someone had attempted to wash them away.
But first the house would have to be in complete darkness and there was not enough heavy duty black polythene in the police station for a blackout.
And people were still living in the Smith Street house, including the Fraser children Jamie (10), and Natalie (5).
There was thought to be a cancer risk from the blood-revealing chemical, said Mr Trower, so there were health and safety considerations.
The tests were finally carried out on May 11, 1998 when everyone had left.
Mr Trower said in December that year he visited Wester Hillside Farm at Mosstowie, near Elgin, because pig farmer Hector Dick, now 56, was suspected of conspiring with Fraser to murder Arlene.
Muck and animal droppings in an outhouse were examined without result.
The trial heard that blood was found on a Nissan Bluebird - but it turned out to be deer’s blood.
Trained searcher PC Peter Hall (47), said he went to Smith Street on the evening of April 28 as soon as Arlene was reported missing by a neighbour.
He said he met with Fraser that evening who told him there were two stashes of money in the house, one behind an air vent in Arlene’s bedroom and another in a locked gun cabinet in the loft.
"I assumed he was suggesting she had taken it to go away," said PC Hall, who searched for the cash but found nothing.
He also helped search the house the following day and told the trial Arlene’s rings were not in the bathroom.
"Would you have regarded the presence of such rings as significant in this inquiry?" asked Mr Prentice.
"Yes," PC Hall told him and said he was in no doubt that the rings were not there.
They were found on May 7, the trial has heard.
Nat Fraser (53), denies attacking wife Arlene (33), between April 28 and May 7 1998 at the home they once shared in Smith Street, New Elgin, or elsewhere in Scotland.
It is alleged that he strangled her or murdered her "by other means to the prosecutor unknown."
The indictment against Fraser says he knew Arlene had seen a solicitor about divorcing him and getting a cash pay-off.
Fraser has lodged papers in court claiming that 14 years ago on April 28 he left the address in Burnside Road, Lhanbryde, where he was staying at about 7.30am and spent the day making van deliveries to hotels, restaurants and shops - pausing to make a phone call just after 9am.
Fraser also claims that if mum-of-two Arlene was murdered, as prosecutors claim, the man responsible could be Hector Dick of Mosstowie, Elgin.
The trial continues...
