A SHOPKEEPER accused of murdering his postmistress wife appeared to have a loving and affectionate marriage, a resident in their quiet village said today.

Robin Garbutt, 45, bludgeoned his unfaithful wife Diana to death in their bed, then pretended she had been killed by an armed robber, Teesside Crown Court has heard.

She was murdered exactly a year ago in the upstairs living quarters of The Village Shop and Post Office in Melsonby, near Richmond, North Yorkshire. Garbutt denies killing her.

The jury heard evidence from a series of Melsonby residents who were in the shop on the morning of March 23 last year.

Bernard Golding, a Melsonby resident, socialised with the Garbutts regularly and when he was asked to describe them, said: "Very loving. Affectionate.

Never, ever in the eight years I knew them had a cross word."

Mr Golding said Garbutt appeared his normal jokey self when he went in the shop that morning.

The prosecution alleged he smashed his sleeping wife's head three times with a metal rod, killing her, then opened the shop as usual.

Garbutt told police a robber forced him to open the safe some time after 8.30am, and when he went upstairs he found his wife had been attacked.

Mother-of-three Nicola Foster told the court Mrs Garbutt, 40, had told her she was looking forward to going to visit relatives in America with her husband.

The jury had been told Mrs Garbutt had been unfaithful, used internet dating sites and the couple were considering moving apart.

In March 2009, Garbutt claimed an armed robber struck at the shop although no-one was ever arrested and no witness saw anything suspicious, the court has been told.

Edward Sheddon said it appeared Garbutt was badly shaken for some time afterwards.

"Initially he seemed very shocked and upset by the situation and I do know they were thinking of leaving the shop," he said.

The village rallied round him.

Jamie Hill QC, defending, asked: "Villagers persuaded him to stay?"

"I think we helped, yes," the witness replied.

Mr Sheddon, who has lived in Melsonby for more than 30 years, was in the shop just minutes before Garbutt dialled 999 to raise the alarm.

He bought a copy of the Daily Telegraph, some flour and suet to do some baking and he told the court he and the shopkeeper chatted about football and his culinary skills.

The trial, which is due to last four weeks, continues.