Arlene murder trial charges

Arlene Fraser disappeared in 1998

Nat Fraser was originally charged, along with two other men, of conspiring to murder Arlene Fraser.

However, Hector Dick and Glenn Lucas walked free on 14 January when the Crown said it would no longer be pursuing a case against them.

Mr Fraser, 44, of 2 Smith Street, New Elgin, then appeared at the High Court in Edinburgh on an altered indictment.

He was accused of murdering Arlene - along with unknown accomplices - aware that she had consulted a solicitor about a divorce and financial settlement.

Earlier references to "a conspiracy" involving farmer Mr Dick, 46, of Wester Hillside Farm, Mosstowie, Elgin and saleman Mr Lucas, 51, of 14 Station Road, Surfleet, Spalding, Lincolnshire, were removed.

The Crown has alleged that Arlene may have been strangled at her Elgin home between 28 April and 7 May.

Mr Fraser had also been accused of an attempted cover-up, after the alleged murder.

The Crown alleged that Arlene's body was burned and dismembered.

Nat Fraser allegedly removed her teeth, jewellery and other personal effects which might identify her before scattering the remains somewhere in Scotland.

The charge went on to allege that Mr Fraser took money, a coat and children's clothes from the Smith Street house on 28 April, 1998 and put Arlene's rings in the house on 7 May, 1998.

But those three charges of attempting to defeat the ends of justice have now been dropped.

He has also no longer been accused of causing Mr Dick to dispose of a Ford Fiesta, said to have been bought as part of the alleged murder plan, to stop it falling into the hands of police.

Mr Fraser, 44, now faces a single charge of murder "with others unknown".

He has denied the charge and has lodged a special defence of alibi, claiming he was carrying out deliveries for his fruit and vegetable business on the day his wife vanished.

Mr Dick also faced a charge of being involved in the murder but that charge was dropped and he gave evidence against Mr Fraser.

The trial continues.