Arlene murder trial opens

Arlene Fraser disappeared in 1998

Elgin woman Arlene Fraser disappeared on the day she was due to see a solicitor about a divorce, a High Court jury has been told.

The 33-year-old mother-of-two has not been seen since the end of April 1998.

Three men have gone on trial in Edinburgh charged with murdering her and dismembering her body.

Arlene murder trial charges
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It is alleged that they conspired to murder Mrs Fraser after she consulted a solicitor about instigating divorce proceedings.

Mrs Fraser's husband Nat, Elgin man Hector Dick and Glenn Lucas, of Surfleet, Spalding, all deny the charges.

Mr Fraser and Mr Lucas have lodged alibi notices claiming they were not at the scene of the crime.

Lossiemouth woman Patricia Gauld, 37, told the trial that she had last spoken to Mrs Fraser on 27 April 1998.

The case is being heard in Edinburgh

During the conversation her friend said that she had an appointment the following day.

"She told me she had an appointment with her solicitor in the afternoon to see about getting the divorce started and the financial settlement," said Miss Gauld.

The court heard that Mrs Fraser vanished on 28 April 1998, shortly after waving her two children off to school.

Solicitor Loane Lennon said that Mrs Fraser did not keep an appointment to discuss her marital situation on the day she disappeared.

Miss Lennon said she had held several meetings with Mrs Fraser to discuss the divorce, but had problems working out her husband's financial status.

Amount discussed

She agreed that it was common practice to make a claim for more than the person is thought to be entitled to in order to "flush out" the amount of money that the spouse has.

Miss Lennon confirmed that an amount of about £250,000 had been discussed.

Friend Michelle Scott, 36, also told the court that she had arranged to meet Mrs Fraser on 28 April.

I tried the door and it was open so I just walked in

Michelle Scott
Friend

She said she had driven to her home in Smith Street, arriving at about 1100 GMT.

"I tried the door and it was open so I just walked in. I shouted on Arlene," she said.

However, the shop worker said she could not find Mrs Fraser in the house.

Miss Scott said there was still no-one at home when she returned two hours later.

She told the court that she had not seen her friend since.

Questioned by advocate Paul McBride QC, defending Mr Fraser, Miss Scott agreed that the couple's marriage was "very tempestuous" at times.

'A glimpse'

The court also heard that Mrs Fraser had expensive watches from Geneva and drove a black Ford Granada with the personalised number plate.

Neighbour Andrea Pinkerton, 49, told the trial that she had seen a "glimpse" of Mrs Fraser in her garden at about 0800 GMT on 28 April.

"I never saw her again," said Mrs Pinkerton.

The trial continues.