First picture of Scots man in court in US accused of killing wheelchair-bound wife

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A Scots man accused of killing his paralysed wife in the US has appeared in court for the first time.Wayne Fraser, 47, originally from Mintlaw, Aberdeenshire, allegedly shot his wheelchair-bound spouse Natalie Ryan-Fraser the day after the pair had gone out for a romantic meal in Mississippi on December 30, 2021On Tuesday, the court heard testimony from 911 call operator Cindy Lawrence, who was the first person to give evidence in the trial against Fraser.While on Wednesday, jurors heard from the state medical examiners office, with Natalie's wheelchair being brought into the courtroom for the first time.

It had been reported Natalie, 55, was discovered dead at an apartment on Cedar Street, Caledonia, Mississippi (MS) after Lowndes County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a welfare concern.Cops reportedly found a 9mm handgun at the scene and arrested Wayne Fraser, who had a job in the area and lived there part-time.

He was later charged with murder in the first degree. The day before her death, Natalie had checked the pair into a steakhouse and sushi bar on Facebook, writing: “Dinner with my love”.Court documents state Fraser is accused of feloniously, wilfully and unlawfully with deliberate design to effect the death of Natalie Fraser, a human being, kill Natalie Fraser, without the authority of law and not in necessary self-defence".Even if Fraser is convicted of a lesser homicide offence, he faces being jailed for anything between 20 and 40 years.Local new channel WCBI is broadcasting the trial at Lowndes County Court House.

The jury was selected on Tuesday and evidence was heard yesterday.Wayne Fraser was filmed looking down at the table as she took notes throughout the proceedings.As previously reported by the Daily