Robin Garbutt, a former sub-postmaster serving life for the 2010 murder of his wife Diana, is pursuing a fresh appeal, citing new evidence from the Post Office Inquiry. Convicted in 2011, Garbutt has consistently maintained his innocence, claiming that he and his wife were victims of an armed robbery. Prosecutors argued he faked the robbery, had been stealing from the post office, and killed Diana to conceal his financial crimes. Despite no physical evidence linking him to the murder, the prosecution used data from the controversial Horizon IT system to support the conviction.

Garbutt’s legal team has applied to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) for the case to be reconsidered by the Court of Appeal, arguing that flaws in the Horizon system undermine the evidence used against him. This comes after the Post Office Inquiry exposed issues with the reliability of Horizon, which was previously used to accuse hundreds of sub-postmasters of theft. Conservative MP Kevin Hollinrake is among those backing a review, stating that Garbutt deserves a fair hearing, though he refrains from commenting on Garbutt’s guilt or innocence.

Garbutt has faced three unsuccessful attempts to secure a new appeal. However, his lawyers argue that new developments since his last bid in 2021, when the CCRC rejected his appeal, offer fresh grounds for a case review. Diana Garbutt’s family maintains belief in his guilt, but Garbutt’s supporters insist that he did not receive a fair trial and hope that the latest application will yield a breakthrough.

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In a significant escalation of rhetoric, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Russia would regard an attack from a non-nuclear state, supported by a nuclear-armed nation, as a “joint attack,” hinting at the potential use of nuclear weapons in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. This declaration comes as Ukraine intensifies its military operations, seeking long-range Western missiles to target Russian military installations. Putin’s remarks follow a meeting with his Security Council, where he indicated plans to revise Russia’s nuclear doctrine, clarifying conditions under which Moscow might resort to nuclear strikes.

As tensions rise, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is in the United States seeking military support, emphasizing the urgency of addressing the threat posed by Russian attacks. Zelensky’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, dismissed Putin’s statements as “nuclear blackmail,” reflecting Ukraine’s determination to defend its sovereignty against perceived aggression. In response to the escalating situation, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken condemned Putin’s comments as “totally irresponsible,” reinforcing the Western commitment to support Ukraine amid growing fears of nuclear escalation.

The Kremlin has warned that changes to its nuclear strategy serve as a signal to the West regarding the consequences of participating in attacks against Russia. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that the updated nuclear doctrine would outline specific scenarios where Russia might consider using nuclear weapons, particularly in response to conventional strikes perceived as critical threats to national sovereignty. This development highlights the precarious nature of the conflict and the potential for catastrophic consequences if diplomatic avenues are not pursued.

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