THE man a murder accused claims could have been behind his wife's alleged killing referred to the missing woman in a secretly recorded conversation, a trial heard.

Hector Dick, 56, was taped, without his knowledge, talking to another man nine months after Arlene Fraser vanished.

During the conversation he referred to Mrs Fraser as a "silly b******", the High Court in Edinburgh heard.

Mr Dick, a farmer from Elgin, Moray, has been giving evidence since last Thursday at the trial of Nat Fraser, his former friend and the best man at his wedding.

Fraser, 53, denies acting with others to murder his wife and says if the alleged offence was committed, then it could have been carried out by Mr Dick.

Mother-of-two Mrs Fraser, 33, of New Elgin, Moray, vanished on April 28 1998 and has never been seen since. No body has ever been found. The court heard she was separated from her husband when she disappeared.

The trial, now in its second week, heard that Mr Dick was secretly recorded talking to Kevin Ritchie – the man he said he bought a car from at Fraser's request – on January 19, 1999.

During questioning by defence QC John Scott, the jury was read transcripts of their conversation.

The court heard that Mr Ritchie stated: "I don't know nothing about f****** her, her car or nothing else. I f****** never heard of her until she disappeared."

In response, Mr Dick replied: "I kent (knew) the silly b******."

Mr Scott asked whether that had been a reference to Mrs Fraser, to which the witness replied that it "could be".

Pressed on the issue, he said: "I think it is. I was just checking to see whether I was speaking about Nat.

"It would be Arlene I was referring to."

It is alleged Mrs Fraser, of Smith Street, was strangled or assaulted by other unknown means and murdered between April 28 and May 7, 1998.

The trial continues today, before judge Lord Bracadale.