A POLICE officer was quizzed after his DNA was found on an iron bar believed to have been used to bludgeon a sub-postmaster’s wife to death, a court heard.

PC Darren Thompson had to account for his movements on the day of Diana Garbutt’s death, after the weapon was later uncovered during a search of Melsonby, near Richmond, North Yorkshire.

Mr Garbutt denies murdering his wife on March 23 last year, saying she was attacked during a robbery at The Village Shop and Post Office, which the couple ran.

Her DNA was found on the bar, along with that of an unknown individual, which was later matched to the Yorkbased officer, Teesside Crown Court heard.

Yesterday, it also emerged that hours after Mrs Garbutt’s death, Cleveland Police found a balaclava and gun behind a club in Thornaby, Teesside.

Their North Yorkshire counterparts were alerted, but the items were never DNA tested.

This was because the focus of the investigation was firmly on Mr Garbutt, his barrister Jamie Hill suggested.

The jury heard that the metal bar – one of 15 recovered by police in the area – was found on a garage wall opposite the store.

PC Thompson said he guarded it for half an hour until it was photographed by a scenes of crime officer.

Pressed by Mr Hill, he said he understood that by touching the item he ran the danger of leaving his own DNA or removing someone else’s.

The officer revealed he also had to provide details of his whereabouts on March 23 to rule himself out of the investigation.

Forensic scientist Sarah Gray, who swabbed the bar for DNA five months after its discovery, said PC Thompson could have either handled the bar or inadvertently coughed or spat over it while talking.

She also described how, when tested, 45-year-old Mr Garbutt’s clothing had no blood stains from the victim.

Earlier, Mark Bates, head of forensics at North Yorkshire Police, said there had been a lack of blood at the scene – unusual given the level of Mrs Garbutt’s injury.

He agreed with Mr Hill’s assertion that police had considered whether the victim may have been killed elsewhere and had something placed over her head to avoid blood spray.

The trial continues.