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Professor David Wilson, the UK’s leading criminologist, presents the second series of the crime talk show Crime Files. In this episode, David opens the book on the Scottish criminal justice system to explore how police and prosecutors build a murder case when there is no body to be found.

David travels to Elgin to investigate one of Scotland’s most notorious no-body murders – the case of Arlene Fraser, who disappeared from her home in 1998. Her body has never been found, but her husband, Nat, is currently serving 17 years in prison for her murder.

In the studio, David meets former detective superintendent Alan Smith, the deputy senior investigating officer on the case. Alan reveals some of the small pieces of evidence that helped to secure Nat’s conviction, and gives first-hand insight into the twists and turns of this complicated case.

David then speaks to Professor Peter Duff, an expert on the Scottish criminal justice system, who explains the strength of circumstantial evidence and details exactly how a murder conviction can be achieved without a body. David’s final guest is Euan McIlvride from the Miscarriages of Justice Organisation. In 1995, Euan was convicted of three counts of embezzlement and fraud, two of which were later quashed on appeal. Euan speaks about the surprisingly high numbers of miscarriages of justice in Scotland and the devastating effect that wrongful imprisonment can have. He also discusses the controversial proposed Suzanne’s Law, and MOJO’s reason for not supporting it.