Arlene was set to see divorce solicitor
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ELGIN mum Arlene Fraser was due to see her solicitor about divorcing husband on the day she disappeared, the Nat Fraser murder trial was told.
Arlene Fraser has not been seen since April 28, 1998.
That day, a Tuesday, was a day off from her business studies course at Moray College.
Arlene’s pal Patricia Gauld (47), described a conversation with Arlene the previous evening when she went to collect her children from the Fraser home in Smith Street.
Mrs Gauld told the court she knew that Arlene’s 11-year marriage to fruit and veg wholesaler Nat Fraser was going through a rocky patch.
"She had an appointment on Tuesday with a solicitor regarding her divorce from Mr Fraser," said Mrs Gauld.
"She said that she was going to file for divorce. All she wanted out of the marriage was the house and the custody of the children."
Mrs Gauld added that Arlene had seemed a lot happier after splitting from Nat, who was living at the Lhanbryde home of his business partner Ian "Pedro" Taylor.
Mrs Gauld said on that Tuesday she was sick and unable to go to work. She tried all day, without success to phone Arlene to tell her.
Retired school clerical assistant Mrs Margaret Boyce (68) also told the trial she had tried to phone Arlene Fraser all day to tell her what time her son, Jamie, would be home after taking part in an anti-litter campaign.
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
