Sir Alan Bates has raised concerns about the conviction of a postmaster for murder, as evidence from the discredited Horizon computer system was presented during his trial. Robin Garbutt, aged 60, was convicted of killing Diana Garbutt, aged 40, in 2010 by the jury at his trial, where it was alleged that he staged an armed robbery at his post office to cover up a fraud.
However, Garbutt’s legal team now asserts that the financial motive for the crime has been discredited due to the Horizon scandal, presenting a new dossier on the case. Post Office campaigners Lee Castleton, Janet Skinner, and Seema Davindra, who are also victims of the Horizon scandal, are now supporting Garbutt.
Speaking to the Mirror, Sir Alan stated that while he hasn’t reviewed the specifics of the case, he referenced past prejudices against postmasters as liars. Fellow campaigners have visited Garbutt in prison, expressing their belief in his innocence and claiming that all evidence against him has been refuted.
New evidence has emerged, potentially leading to a retrial. Witnesses testified that Diana’s time of death contradicted the prosecution’s timeline, as her blood was still oxygenated hours after the alleged murder. Garbutt’s alibi of serving customers during the critical time period also casts doubt on his guilt, as no traces of blood or DNA were found on him or the murder weapon.
An appeal based on witness testimony and timeline discrepancies has been made, with supporters highlighting the lack of time for Garbutt to commit the murder and dispose of evidence before alerting the authorities. The Criminal Case Review Commission is currently reviewing the case, while North Yorkshire Police have refrained from commenting on Garbutt’s appeal.