JURORS in the trial of a subpostmaster accused of battering his wife to death as she lay in bed were yesterday shown photographs of her bloodstained pillow.
Diana Garbutt was hit over the head three times with a blunt crowbar-like object, Teesside Crown Court was told.
The 40-year-old, of Melsonby, near Richmond, North Yorkshire, died on March 23, last year.
Her husband, Robin, is on trial accused of her murder.
The sixth day of his trial heard evidence from pathologist Dr Stuart Hamilton, who examined Mrs Garbutt where she was found, in the living quarters of The Village Shop and Post Office, which the couple ran.
A 3ft metal pipe was passed around members of the jury.
Dr Hamilton told the court it was impossible to precisely determine Mrs Garbutt’s time of death.
He said pathologists use three factors to determine a person’s time of death – body temperature, the degree of rigor mortis and hypostasis, a settling of blood that causes skin discolouration.
Dr Hamilton said Mrs Garbutt did not display defensive injuries, indicating she may not have seen her assailant coming.
He said: “In my view, she had been dead at least an hour at that time (when she was found) and I think it more likely that she had been dead since the early hours of March 23.”
Under cross-examination from defence barrister, Jamie Hill QC, Dr Hamilton accepted there was a reasonable possibility that Mrs Garbutt may have died later.
Forensic scientist Joanne Millington, an expert in blood staining, said Mrs Garbutt’s assailant might not have got her blood on themselves.
Prosecutors say Mr Garbutt killed his wife, then faked a robbery in an attempt to cover it up.
The 45-year-old denies murder.
The trial continues.
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