AN Arlene Fraser murder suspect wasn’t on his farm at the time the Elgin mum disappeared, police were told.
But Hector Dick’s older brother James (63), told the High Court in Edinburgh today that he spoke to the pig farmer that morning and saw him cleaning out a stinking skip which had been used for fish waste.
On trial is Arlene’s estranged husband, fruit and veg wholesaler Nat Fraser (53), who denies murder and claims that his former pal Hector Dick could be the real culprit.
Fraser’s defence QC, John Scott, showed James Dick of Mosstowie, near Elgin, a statement he made just days after Arlene (33), disappeared from her home in Smith Street, New Elgin - never to be seen again.
Asked to recall Tuesday April 28 1998, James Dick told the officers: "I cannot remember seeing Hector at all that morning."
James Dick explained that after that early statement he discussed events with his brother and farm worker Ian Gordonm (70). He also looked at telephone records to jog his memory.
Mr Scott produced another statement from December 1998 in which James Dick told police: "I think Ian and Hector cleaned out the skip in the afternoon."
Mr Scott said: "I am not suggesting, Mr Dick, that you are making things up. But, do you see there appears to be some difference between what you said to police in two statements in 1998 and what you said in evidence today?"
James Dick accepted his memory would have been better 14 years ago but insisted the skip had been cleaned in the morning. The police statements had been "careless" he suggested.
"I was just telling them as best I could," he added.
James Dick denied that he had "colluded" with his brother and told advocate depute Alex Prentice QC, prosecuting, that he would not lie for him in court.
Fraser (53), denies attacking his wife 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 7.30a.m. and spent the day making van deliveries to hotels, restaurants and shops - pausing to make a phone call just after 9a.m.
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 jury has heard that there had been an earlier trial in 2003 when Hector Dick had been one of three men accused of murdering Arlene, but had left the dock and given evidence for the prosecution.
Another man on trial then, Glenn Lucas, was now dead. The third man was Fraser.
The trial continues....
