Jailed postmaster Robin Garbutt is no killer, says family

Ahead of the third anniversary today of his wife Diane’s murder, supporters of Garbutt, 47, have hired a new legal team to review the case and provide advice on potential avenues for appeal.

A website – robingarbuttofficial.com – has gone live to promote the campaign and a demonstration against the conviction is being planned to take place in London.

The website highlights evidence which Garbutt’s family claims points to his innocent. A petition calling for a new appeal has also been launched.

Mark Stilborn, Garbutt’s brother-in-law, said the family hoped the campaign would prompt people to come forward with new information on the case.

Mr Stilborn said: “We hope and pray that after viewing the website, people will contact us with any information they may have – no matter how small or insignificant they may think it is.

“Out of this we will be able to find new evidence that will allow us at least to go back to the appeal court and ultimately to find Diana’s real killers.”

Garbutt is locked up in Frankland Prison, in Durham, a Category A prison which also houses Soham murderer Ian Huntley and Facebook killer Peter Chapman.

Mr Stilborn said: “Robin has received over 2,000 letters and cards of support since being in prison.

“Whilst having all the support he has, Robin still does get down and suffer dark times in prison, but who can blame that from an innocent man that was robbed at gunpoint, found his wife battered to death and who was wrongfully convicted of killing her.”

Mrs Garbutt, 40, was found dead in the living quarters of the couple’s village shop and post office at Melsonby, near Richmond, in March, 2010.

Police and paramedics initially responded to reports of an armed robbery.

In the days after the alleged raid, detectives appealed for help to catch a man wearing a balaclava and armed with a gun.

However, her husband was arrested on suspicion of murder three weeks later.