New Parole Law Offers Hope for Families of Unresolved Murder Cases

Carol Gillies, sister of Arlene Fraser, has expressed her gratitude to the Scottish Government for supporting a new law that could potentially bring closure to their family's 27-year ordeal. Arlene, a mother of two, disappeared without a trace on April 28, 1998, and her husband, Nat Fraser, was found guilty of her murder in 2003. Despite his eligibility for parole in 2029, Fraser's refusal to reveal the location of Arlene's body has left her family without closure.

Key Takeaways:

• The new law, known as Suzanne's Law, aims to incentivize perpetrators to reveal the location of their victims' remains in exchange for a reduced sentence or parole.
• Arlene's sister, Carol Gillies, hopes the new law will bring an end to her "mental torture" over the uncertainty surrounding her sister's disappearance.
• The uncertainty has prevented Arlene's family from getting proper closure, with Carol stating, "If Arlene had been left on the kitchen floor, that would be one thing. We would have her and we would be able to have a proper burial."
• The Scottish Government's Justice Secretary, Angela Constance, has expressed her commitment to changing parole laws to support families of unresolved murder cases.
• Carol Gillies believes the new law will give her husband, Nat Fraser, a choice between revealing the location of Arlene's body or remaining in jail.

Statistics:

• 27 years have passed since Arlene Fraser's disappearance on April 28, 1998.
• Nat Fraser is eligible for parole in 2029.
• A new law, Suzanne's Law, aims to address the issue of unresolved murder cases in Scotland.
• The law is named after Edinburgh bookkeeper Suzanne Pilley, who was murdered by David Gilroy in 2010.

Sources:

• The Scotsman
• Glasgow Times