SUB-POSTMASTER Robin Garbutt has denied his “unhappy and unfaithful” wife was about to leave him when he allegedly beat her to death.

David Hatton, prosecuting, suggested to the 45-year-old that Diana Garbutt no longer loved him and found him inadequate.

Mr Garbutt rejected the claims at Teesside Crown Court yesterday as the murder trial entered its fourth week.

The defendant denies beating his wife to death at The Village Shop and Post Office, in Melsonby, near Richmond, on March 23 last year.

Cross-examining the defendant, Mr Hatton said: ‘‘You had an unhappy, unfaithful wife who didn’t love you and found you inadequate. Do you agree?”

Mr Garbutt replied: “Totally untrue.”

Mr Hatton then asked: “If she left, you would lose your future and your shop.’’ Mr Garbutt replied: “I wouldn’t know what agreements we would make on that.”

The court heard that during an interview with police, Mr Garbutt referred to the spare bedroom his wife was found in as “Di’s bedroom”.

Mr Hatton asked if the couple were sleeping together at the time she died.

“Always, unless I had a cold,” replied Mr Garbutt.

The jury has seen pictures of the couple’s main bedroom, which show an open wardrobe.

The defendant told police the couple had started packing ahead of a holiday to the US the following week.

Mr Hatton said: “Was she planning on leaving you by any chance?”

Mr Garbutt said: “No, no, Di was really looking forward to the holiday.”

It was then put to the defendant that he was “financially desperate” and was stealing money from the post office to live on.

Mr Hatton asked: “Was that desperation also driven, Mr Garbutt, by you trying to keep your wife happy, to keep the business afloat and provide her with a lifestyle that you could not otherwise afford?”

Mr Garbutt relied: “I don’t think anybody would call me desperate.”

The court has heard how a relief subpostmistress was due to provide cover when the couple went on holiday.

She would audit the post office safe, the jury has been told.

Mr Garbutt denied he was “panicking” about the shortages in the safe at the time of the murder.

Melsonby resident Katherine Googe has told the court that she saw Mr Garbutt at about 10pm the night before his wife’s death walking across the village green. Mr Hatton asked the defendant where he was going, adding: “You had nowhere to go, because you had absolutely nothing in your name and you went back. Later that night, you killed your wife in her sleep did you not?”

Mr Garbutt replied: “That’s a terrible and awful thing to say.”

The defendant said he did not know how the murder weapon came to be on a wall opposite the shop.

Mr Hatton replied: “You put it there after you had beaten your wife to death and then wiped one end of it. That’s right isn’t it’’ “No,” replied Mr Garbutt.

The defendant was then asked why he had not been able to turn over his wife when asked by the 999 operator.

Mr Hatton said: “You didn’t want to see in the cold light of day the effects of what you had done in the darkness did you?”

Mr Garbutt replied: “No.”

Mr Hatton later asked the defendant what time he killed his wife.

Mr Garbutt replied: “I had never nor would never hurt Di. I loved my wife.”

Mr Hatton added: “She didn’t love you, though, did she Mr Garbutt? She didn’t love you.”

The defendant replied: “I think you’re wrong.”

The case continues.