WIFE-KILLER NATOUT OF JAIL FOR DAD'S FUNERAL; Dignity he denied Arlene.

Byline: By Charlie Gall

MURDERER Nat Fraser was allowed out of jail to attend his dad's funeral yesterday.

The cold-blooded killer was shackled to a prison officer under tight security as hepaid his last respects to his father Nathaniel, 74.

And Fraser, 45, who tried to dodge justice for years, was still trying to avoid public exposure as he got the comfort he denied the family of his victim, estranged wife Arlene.

Onlookers said he was trying to 'play hide and seek' with photographers as he was taken first to a funeral parlour in Elgin, Moray, then to the Moray Crematorium, near Buckie, Banffshire, to say his farewell to his father.

Nathaniel died just days before his 75th birthday at his home in Elgin.

His funeral was the first time his son had left prison since he was convicted of murdering Arlene with whom he had two children and dismembering and burning her body to hide the evidence.

Fraser arrived in a dark blue Ford Galaxy people carrier, caged behind bars in the back seat, and was driven into a garage and through a back door into the small chapel.

There were about 100 mourners at the service, conducted by local minister the Rev Norman Whyte.Fraser stood in the front row alongside his mother Ibby and his and Arlene's children Jamie, 16, and Natalie, 13.

The children were kept away from Arlene's memorial service last year by Fraser's family.

The service was held after he was finally jailed for murdering Arlene, who vanished in 1998 at the age of 33.

Police were convinced from the start that he had been behind her disappearance But no remains were ever found and it took them five years to bring him to trial for murder.

Fraser was charged with plotting to murder his wife along with pals Hector Dick and Glenn Lucas.

Dick and Lucas walked free from the dock and Dick gave evidence against his old pal, telling the High Court in Edinburgh that Fraser had told him he had hired a hitman to kill his wife.

He claimed Fraser, a fruit and vegetable dealer, cut up his wife's body and burned her remains.

The court heard that Fraser was angry that Arlene was filing for divorce and going for a substantial financial settlement.

At yesterday's service, the killer joined other mourners as they sang Psalm 23, the Lord's My Shepherd, and one of his father's favourite songs, The Old Rugged Cross.

Afterwards, Fraser spent a few moments with his mother and children.

They had arrived at the service with his sister Lynne.

Fraser shook hands with mourners through a window as he attempted to avoid being photographed.

Umbrellas and strategically parked cars were used to shield him.

One onlooker said: 'That's typical Nat, clowning around on the day of his dad's funeral.

'He should have arrived like a man instead of resorting to the childish stuff.

'But that's him all over. He was always playing the fool.'

Notorious womaniser Fraser's style was his downfall.

As Arlene's anguished family appealed for information on her whereabouts, he carried on as if he hadn't a care in the world.

The Record photogaphed him smirking and joking on the first anniversary of her disappearance.

But the smile was eventually wiped off his face when he collapsed in the dock at the High Court in Edinburgh after being sentenced to life, with a 25-year minimum term.

CAPTION(S):

UNDERCOVER:; Fraser, left, tried to avoid the cameras as he arrived for the funeral of his dad, above. Right, tragic Arlene, who disappeared in 1998; TONYNICOLETTI