THE man a murder accused claims could have been behind his wife's alleged killing tried to take his own life within 24 hours of being detained over the woman's death, a court has heard.

Hector Dick, now 56, attempted to hang himself in June 2001 after being questioned by police and detained over the murder of Arlene Fraser, a jury was told. Her husband, Nat Fraser, is on trial at the High Court in Edinburgh accused of her murder.

In his suicide note, Mr Dick made no reference to Fraser arranging to have his wife killed, the court heard. Mr Dick, a farmer, also made no attempt in the note to say that he had nothing to do with Mrs Fraser's murder.

Mother-of-two Arlene, of New Elgin, Moray, vanished on April 28, 1998, at the age of 33. Businessman Fraser, 53, denies acting with others to murder his wife and says that if the alleged offence was committed, then it could have been carried out by Mr Dick.

Mr Dick, of Mosstowie, Elgin, was giving evidence at the trial of his former friend.

The witness previously told the court that Fraser admitted paying a hitman to kill his wife. The trial has also heard that Mr Dick was jailed for attempting to pervert the course of justice in 2001, for lying about a car thought to be relevant to the investigation into Arlene's disappearance.

In 2003, he stood trial with two others for the murder but became a prosecution witness during that case.

The court heard Mr Dick was questioned by police on June 19, 2001, and detained for Mrs Fraser's murder. He was in prison at the time.

He agreed with defence QC John Scott he had been in a "very difficult situation" and there was a risk he would not be released from jail that year.

The QC suggested some people may think his actions were "the response of a guilty conscience", to which Mr Dick replied: "I never thought it was that way at the time."

Fraser denies murder. The trial continues.