Robin Garbutt, a post office owner serving a life sentence for the murder of his wife Diana, is seeking a fresh appeal, arguing that the discredited Horizon computer system was used to wrongly convict him. Garbutt has maintained his innocence since Diana was bludgeoned to death in their flat above the post office in Richmondshire, North Yorkshire, in March 2010.
Garbutt's conviction in 2011 relied partly on evidence from a Post Office investigator using Horizon data, which suggested he was stealing money and killed his wife to cover it up. The jury heard that high overnight cash declarations were typical of Post Office fraud cases. No DNA evidence linked Garbutt to the murder or the weapon.
Garbutt claims he and Diana often had to adjust cash balances due to Horizon discrepancies. He hopes the government's decision to quash Horizon-dependent convictions will support his case. Diana's mother, Agnes Gaylor, dismissed his efforts as exploiting the Horizon scandal for publicity.
Garbutt was given a life sentence with a minimum of 20 years, not eligible for release until 2030. He has lost previous appeals and been rejected three times by the Criminal Cases Review Commission.
