Killer destroyed our lives, says murdered postmistress's mother - VIDEO

Agnes Gaylor was speaking about the murder of her daughter, Diana Garbutt, 40, who was found dead in the upstairs living quarters of the post office in Melsonby, North Yorkshire, on Tuesday morning.

Mrs Garbutt's husband, Robin, 44, said he discovered his wife's body after an armed raider confronted him in the store and made off with a substantial amount of cash.

Mrs Gaylor, 60, today made an emotional appeal at a hotel in York to find her daughter's killer.

She said the last few years in Melsonby had been the happiest of her daughter's life.

"She was content, she loved her life. She didn't deserve to be taken like this. Nobody does. But she. of all people, did not deserve to be taken this way," she said.

Mrs Gaylor added: "The person who has taken my Diana's life has also destroyed my life, her husband Robin's life and the lives of so many other people who adored Diana."

Mrs Gaylor, who was supported by her partner, Michael Hodgson, said: "I'm here today to appeal to anyone watching, reading or listening, if you have any information which may help the police catch the person who brutally murdered my wonderful daughter Diana, to please come forward with that information.

"Someone knows the person who did this. Someone you know may have Diana's blood on their clothes, may be behaving oddly or spending more money than usual."

She continued: "Catching them won't bring my daughter back but, if you know anything which can catch or could catch and stop the killer from hurting anyone else, please speak out now and contact the police."

Mr Garbutt told police he opened his shop at 4.30am on Tuesday and was confronted by the masked raider, who was carrying a gun, just after he opened up the post office part of the business at 8.30am.

He said the raider entered the shop just after 8.30am and said "We've got your wife" before demanding cash from the safe.

The robber then left with a substantial amount of cash in a holdall and Mr Garbutt went upstairs, where he found his wife, who had died from severe head injuries. Police said she had not been shot.

The ambulance service called police to the post office at 8.38am, which would have been a busy time in the village.

People living and working around the post office said they did not notice anything unusual until an ambulance and then armed police arrived on Tuesday morning.

A school bus normally arrives in the village centre at about 8.30am.

Bill Nixon, who runs a garage opposite the post office, said there were around 40 children in the area of the shop at the time.

Residents said the Garbutts, who have no children, moved to the village from the York area about seven years ago and had been married for about the same time.

Mrs Garbutt is thought to have had a military background.

The store was targeted by armed robbers in March last year, when two men, one armed with what appeared to be a handgun, threatened staff and made off with stamps and a large amount of cash.

People in the village said the couple considered leaving the village after the raid and put the business up for sale but, it appears, they recently decided to stay.

Detectives said there were similarities with the earlier crime which were being investigated.

Police are looking for a suspect who is 5ft 11in to 6ft, and was wearing a black, tight-fitting mask, a dark blue, long-sleeved T-shirt and dark blue-black coloured jeans.

They said they could not rule out there being more than one raider.

Pausing occasionally to compose herself, Mrs Gaylor, who is from the Humberside area, said: "Diana was an amazing girl. She was considerate, kind. She was a lot of things to a lot of people.

"She had a wicked sense of humour. She was just a lovely girl."

She said her daughter was "very thoughtful - just a lovely girl".

Asked about her time at the post office, Mrs Gaylor said: "Diana, I have to say, the few years whilst she's lived at the post office and she's been married to Robin is the happiest I've ever seen Diana."

Mrs Garbutt had an American father and held dual nationality.

Her mother confirmed that her daughter and Mr Garbutt were due to visit family in the United States for a holiday starting this weekend.

Mrs Gaylor said: "They were just having a longer holiday than normal. They were going to meet my other daughter in California and then travel on to see Diana's grandma, who's in her 90s, in Virginia, before she came home.

"And this was going to be holiday just for them because they missed their honeymoon a few years ago, bombings and things. They were really looking forward to this.

"Diana's grandmother, at 94, doesn't have too many visits with Diana and this is just a terrible time for her."

Mrs Gaylor said she had to break the news to Mrs Garbutt's grandmother, Rose.

She said: "She knows. She rang me a couple of days ago and Rose is just an amazing person.

"She held it together to speak to me, she didn't lose control. I know how much this is hurting her."

Asked about comments that Mr and Mrs Garbutt were the "glue" which held Melsonby together, Mrs Gaylor said: "Everybody loved them.

"Robin was very much a people person.

"He'd speak to anybody. He'd have time for everybody.

"And they just fitted in there. Everybody liked them.

Asked about the robbery a year before, Mrs Gaylor said: "Robin was very cut up about that. He was frightened, and that is understandable, and it took him a long time.

"Diana and I were to go camping, we go camping once a year just to be together and she didn't go last year because she was frightened to leave him, she didn't want to leave him on his own.

"And this year, they were a bit more relaxed."

Mrs Gaylor said her other daughter, who lives in California, was called Victoria.

Asked what her message to the public was, she said: "Just to please help find the man that did this before he does it again."

North Yorkshire Police later issued an appeal to trace the owner or driver of a white van, which was seen parked near the post office between 4am and 9am on the morning of Mrs Garbutt's murder.

Detectives said they also wanted to trace any drivers who passed through the village and any customers who used the post office between those times.

The force said it had received more than 90 calls so far from members of the public offering information.

Detective Superintendent Lewis Raw said: "We are extremely pleased with the response to our appeals but still seek further information from the public.

"We still need to trace all customers who used Melsonby Post Office between 4am and 9am on Tuesday 23 March and ask that anyone who was in the shop or post office to contact us as soon as possible.

"We would like to trace the owner or driver of a white Transit or box van which was seen parked near the post office during 4am and 9am on 23 March.

"The vehicle was seen by a number of people and we would like to eliminate it from the inquiry. If you believe you are the driver or owner of that van, please get in touch.

"We also wish to trace the driver of any vehicles who may have passed through the village between these times and urge them to contact us even if they believe they have no information to offer."

Police were continuing to search gardens, drains and bins in the village today and forensic examinations of the post office and its premises were expected to continue until next week.

Officers were also distributing messages of reassurance to members of the close-knit community in Melsonby.