Nat Fraser Trial: Missing Rings

Key evidence that was not revealed at the murder trial of Nat Fraser would only have strengthened the case against him, a court has heard.

One of the essential threads of the killer's new appeal against conviction focuses on a statement from Constable Neil Lynch that he saw Arlene Fraser's rings at the family home the night she disappeared.

Fraser’s Counsel Maggie Scott QC has claimed in his appeal against conviction that the decision by the Crown not to disclose a witness statement denied him a fair trial.
 

The jury was told at Fraser’s 2003 trial that the rings were not found in the initial police search and were not found until five days later.
 

His lawyers argued at the Supreme Court in London that this statement “severed the link” between Fraser and the body.
 

But Solicitor General Frank Mulholland QC said that this evidence would have served only to strengthen the case against Fraser that he murdered his wife, as it would have corroborated the evidence of witness Hector Dick. 

He said: “Had the evidence been available to the Crown, it would have supported a key piece of Mr Dick’s evidence - when he said the appellant had told him he had been in the house on the night of Arlene’s evidence, that he had gone there to tidy up the evidence.

“Lynch’s evidence, had it been available, would have supported that.”

Maggie Scott QC argued that if Lynch’s statement had been disclosed at the original trial, it would have allowed the defence to pursue other lines of cross-examination.
 

Having heard two days of submissions, the panel will now deliberate in private before announcing its judgement at a later date.
 

Fraser was jailed for life in 2003 after a jury found him guilty of killing his wife in April 1998, despite no body ever being found. He is serving a minimum term of 25 years.
 

Meanwhile, the sister of Arlene Fraser has vowed never to stop looking for her body. Speaking outside the Supreme Court, Carol Gillies said: “It has been 13 years now, how long is it going to go on for?
“Enough is enough.

“We will always keep looking for her and do the best for her.That’s why we are here - to try to find out the truth about her.”