ROBIN GARBUTT SENTENCED FOR MURDER IN NORTH YORKSHIRE AND FAMILY CALLS FOR RETRIAL

Robin Garbutt, a postmaster in North Yorkshire, was sentenced in 2011 to serve a minimum of 20 years for the murder of his wife, Diana Garbutt, who was 40 years old. The killing took place at their home above the Melsonby Village Shop and Post Office in March 2010. Despite serving time and consistently asserting his innocence, Garbutt's conviction has been challenged through multiple appeals. In November 2022, his family voiced their hope for a retrial after losing a third attempt to have his case referred to the Court of Appeal.

Garbutt was convicted of bludgeoning his wife with a metal bar as she slept. The prosecution described the murder as "brutal" and "cold-blooded." During the trial, Garbutt claimed that an armed robber had threatened him into handing over cash and had his wife with him, only for him to later find her dead. The case also included allegations that Garbutt feared the discovery of thefts he had committed at the post office. The family attempted to leverage the Horizon scandal — a major miscarriage of justice involving faulty IT systems that led to wrongful convictions of over 700 Post Office workers — to challenge the conviction. However, the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) concluded that this evidence was not relevant to Garbutt's case, stating there was "no real possibility" the Court of Appeal would overturn his conviction after a thorough review.

Garbutt's sister and brother-in-law expressed their disappointment with the decision, calling for a retrial to ensure a "fair and just trial." Previously, in 2012, Garbutt’s attempt to overturn his conviction was rejected by three Court of Appeal judges, who found his conviction to be safe. The family believes that new evidence — including discrepancies in forensic judgments, DNA findings, and an eyewitness account of a suspicious vehicle — could support an appeal. They are currently discussing the next steps with their solicitor.