A SHOPKEEPER accused of murdering his wife in her sleep said the accusation was "a terrible, awful thing to say".

Prosecutors claim that Robin Garbutt, 45, bludgeoned his wife Diana, 40, in their living quarters above The Village Shop and Post Office in Melsonby, North Yorkshire, last March and then blamed an armed robber.

Garbutt, who denies murder, was cross-examined at Teesside Crown Court by David Hatton QC, who put forward a series of propositions.

He said: "First, you had an unhappy, unfaithful wife who didn't love you and found you inadequate. Do you agree?"

The defendant replied: "Totally untrue."

Mr Hatton asked: "Secondly, if she left, you would lose your future and your shop."

Garbutt replied: "I wouldn't know what agreements we would make on that."

Mr Hatton asked: "Was your wife aware of you using Post Office cash to fund this ailing business and lifestyle?"

Softly-spoken Garbutt replied that his wife would sometimes know how much was in the safe. He denies stealing cash from the Post Office. The couple were weeks away from going on holiday to the US, which would have triggered a Post Office audit.

Mr Hatton said: "You were about to be exposed and humiliated and you couldn't face it."

He suggested the couple discussed this the night before she was killed.

Garbutt was seen on the village green carrying a bag by a local woman at around 10pm - after he said he was in bed. He denies it was him.

Mr Hatton said: "You were leaving but you had nowhere to go. You had absolutely nothing in your own name and you went back.

"Later that morning you killed your wife in her sleep, didn't you?"

The defendant replied: "That's a terrible, awful thing to say."

Full story in tomorrow's The Northern Echo