Family refuse to have Arlene declared dead

THE family of missing Arlene Fraser said today they would not have her declared dead, despite her husband being convicted of her murder.

As it is now seven years since her disappearance, today is the first opportunity for the family to have a declaration under the Presumption of Death (Scotland) Act.

Mrs Fraser vanished from her home in New Elgin, Moray, after seeing her children off to school. Her body has never been found. Her husband Nat Fraser was convicted of her murder, but is mounting an appeal.

Members of her family have said they have no intention of lodging an application.

Steve Gillies, the husband of Mrs Fraser’s sister Carol, said the family would spend the day remembering her.

He said: "I do not know where these claims have come from. It is not something any of us have thought of, it’s a non-event.

"We are not going to go up to Elgin and go to court. If anything else, Nat is the next of kin, we do not know where we stand with that and making an application."

Today also marks the launch of a book by one of the men originally quizzed in the inquiry. Lincolnshire businessman Glen Lucas was facing a murder charge, which was later dropped.