An Aberdeenshire man who swapped the north-east for married life in America has been convicted for slaying his disabled wife in a deadly gun attack.
A Mississippi jury found Wayne Fraser, 47, guilty of the culpable negligent manslaughter of paralysed Natalie Ryan-Fraser, who relied on a wheelchair for her mobility.
Fraser had pled not guilty to the first-degree murder of his 55-year-old spouse and all 12 jurors eventually voted unanimously to acquit him of the more serious charge.
Just under a month before the Scots expat gunned down the defenceless woman, he was pictured on Facebook firing a weapon during the couple’s visit to San Angelo Gun Club in Texas.
On Friday, Judge James T Kitchens Jr told Fraser he would spend the next 20 years in prison, the maximum sentence that he could impose for Fraser’s outrageous crime.
In an exclusive interview with The Press and Journal, the District Attorney (DA) who led the prosecution against the callous gunman revealed how difficult it was to convict him.
A relieved Scott Colom commended the jury, saying: “The jurors paid attention. I respect their verdict.
“It was a tough case because we didn’t have any eyewitnesses – only his version of events. We had to disprove that enough to get him found guilty of anything.”
Throughout the police investigation and prosecution, Fraser tried to present the chilling ordeal that he inflicted on Natalie as nothing more than just an accident.
‘The jury was able to see through the inconsistencies of what he said happened’
Mr Colom added: “I’m happy that the jury was able to see through enough of the inconsistencies of what he said happened and enough of his behaviour to be found guilty of manslaughter.
“What he said happened – he gave different versions – was around them playing with the gun and him accidentally shooting her because of something that she did,” he explained.
He also revealed that the pair had both been drinking and “they both were probably intoxicated”.
According to Mississippi law, Fraser may be given the opportunity of early release from custody – under strict conditions – as part of an arrangement called parole, which can allow a prisoner to serve the rest of their sentence in the community.
Previously, the State Public Defender, André de Gruy told our reporter: “A conviction of manslaughter carries up to 20 years set by the judge.
“There is parole eligibility on that charge after a person serves 50% of the sentence imposed.”
Parole is decided by a panel of 5 people who’ve been appointed to the parole board by the governor.
Wayne Fraser blamed his wife for her death
Relatives of Fraser’s victim, who was employed as a Texas-based university professor, attended the week-long hearing and were present for the result.
Natalie’s body was discovered at an apartment after Lowndes County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a concern for her welfare.
One of Natalie’s brothers, Kory Ryan, had called 911 after Fraser phoned him and claimed Natalie shot herself on December 30 2021 – he told the court on Thursday.
Law enforcement officers took into evidence a 9mm firearm – the dead woman’s own handgun – and arrested Fraser after arriving at the Cedar Street property in the town of Caledonia, around 8am that morning.
Mr Ryan, the founder and managing partner of a Texan law firm, was the prosecution’s final witness before the DA closed his case.
Ahead of the weekend, Judge Kitchens gave the jury his instructions before jurors heard closing arguments from the prosecution and Fraser’s defence attorney Chance Fair.
Mr Fair, a public defender, has been representing the former Mintlaw Academy and Banff and Buchan student whose legal fees are being paid by the state.
Fraser was declared unable to foot the bill himself during the 20 months that he’s been locked up in the county jail awaiting his day in court.
Members of the jury started deliberations at 12.20pm (US time) on Friday afternoon and returned to the courtroom with an outcome three hours later.
The evidence jurors must consider
They had considered the testimony of a variety of witnesses, including 911 call operator Cindy Lawrence and the medical examiner’s office.
On Wednesday, the court was shown stricken Natalie’s wheelchair as the office’s representative was probed on the witness stand.
A digital forensics expert was questioned the following day when the court heard about photos from a mobile phone that he had examined.
Scenes from inside the courtroom have been broadcast on local television news station WCBI all week.
According to the indictment, a court document detailing the charge against Fraser, it had been claimed that Fraser did “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” – an allegation to which he pled not guilty.
The tragic couple married in the US back in 2014 and had lived together in Texas, where Natalie was employed as a senior instructor at Angelo State University’s Department of English and Modern Languages.
In a tribute paid as news of her death began to circulate, Natalie’s colleague Dr. Erin Ashworth-King said: “Professor Ryan was a dynamic teacher, very full of spirit and life”.
‘Dinner with my love’ – Natalie’s last-ever Facebook post
Her husband worked out-of-state part-time as a foreman for an industrial painting and coating company in Hamilton, MS.
At the time when she died, Natalie had travelled from Texas to visit him.
And just a day before, the pair had enjoyed a romantic dinner out together.
While enjoying the meal for two Natalie checked the two in at the steakhouse and sushi bar on Facebook, posting: “Dinner with my love”.
It was her last-ever post.
The almost 10-year-long life that they had shared together came to an abrupt and brutal end when Fraser, whom Natalie called her “monkey”, blasted his so-called beloved “chicken” – his nickname for Natalie – with her own weapon.
A former colleague of Fraser, who worked with him offshore in the North Sea, said he was “very shocked” when he first learned of the horrific incident.
“He was a decent guy and it’s totally out of character. I don’t actually believe he’s done it, to be honest – you just don’t know, I suppose,” he told The P&J.
The trial at the state’s 16th Circuit Court in the southern city of Columbus concluded after hearing four days of evidence and three hours of jury deliberations.
Wayne Fraser has the right to appeal
However, Fraser has the automatic right to appeal the result if he wants to make an attempt at overturning it.
“If he wants to appeal, then he just files a notice but it would take several months,” a court clerk explained.
“It depends on how quickly the information is sent down to the Supreme Court and how long it takes the court reporter (stenographer) to type the transcript (record of proceedings).”
Due to incorrect information that was provided by court staff, yesterday’s article about the trial said George Brinton “Brint” Ryan gave evidence. It was, in fact, his brother Kory.
Read more about what really happened in the Mississippi apartment:
Exclusive: Domestic abuser waited 5 hours to report wife’s fatal shooting
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