Una Crown, a retired postmistress, was found dead at her home in the Wisbech area of Cambridgeshire on 13 January 2013. She had sustained stab wounds to her chest, her throat was cut, and her clothes were set on fire. Initially, her death was not considered suspicious by police, which prosecutor John Price described as a «grave error of judgment.» David Newton, 70, was charged with Mrs. Crown’s murder last year but he denied the offense. On Thursday at Cambridge Crown Court, he appeared open-mouthed as the foreman returned the jury’s guilty verdict. Newton was found guilty by a majority of 10 jurors to two after deliberating for 29 hours and 13 minutes.
John Payne, the husband of Mrs. Crown’s niece, found her in her hallway on 13 January 2013. He had driven to her address to collect her for Sunday lunch at their house. Prosecuting, Mr. Price told the jury that Mrs. Crown was killed the day before, and male DNA matching David Newton’s profile was discovered by scientists in 2023. The prosecution said the reason why Newton went to Mrs. Crown’s home and killed her were «not matters that the prosecution need prove.» But the trial heard the defendant was on state benefits in 2013 – his only source of regular income – and that he was «spending freely» on 13 January. The prosecution also said money was missing from Mrs. Crown’s handbag.
Detective Superintendent Iain Moor from Cambridgeshire Police said the force had apologized to Mrs. Crown’s family for «mistakes» during the initial investigation in 2013. Using a DNA testing technique that was not available then, police were able to «cast doubt on David Newton’s claims that he hadn’t seen [Mrs. Crown] on the day, or days, before her death.» «For more than a decade he thought he had gotten away with this most horrendous crime, but today’s result shows you cannot hide forever,» Mr. Moor added. Newton is due to be sentenced at the same court on February 14. A man has been convicted of the murder of an 86-year-old woman after DNA matching his profile was found on her nail clippings. Una Crown, a retired postmistress, was discovered dead at her home in the Wisbech area of Cambridgeshire on 13 January 2013. She had suffered stab wounds to her chest, her throat was slit, and her clothes were set on fire. Initially, her death was not deemed suspicious by the police, a decision described as a «serious error in judgment» by prosecutor John Price. David Newton, aged 70, was charged with Mrs. Crown’s murder last year, but he denied the accusation. On Thursday at Cambridge Crown Court, he appeared stunned as the foreman announced the jury’s guilty verdict. Newton was found guilty by a majority of 10 jurors to two after deliberating for 29 hours and 13 minutes.
John Payne, the husband of Mrs. Crown’s niece, discovered her in her hallway on 13 January 2013. He had driven to her address to pick her up for Sunday lunch at their house. During the trial, Mr. Price informed the jury that Mrs. Crown was killed the day before and that male DNA matching David Newton’s profile was identified by scientists in 2023. The prosecution stated that the motive behind Newton’s visit to Mrs. Crown’s home and her subsequent murder were «not matters that the prosecution needs to prove.» However, it was revealed in court that the defendant was receiving state benefits in 2013, his sole source of income, and that he was spending lavishly on 13 January. The prosecution also mentioned that money was missing from Mrs. Crown’s handbag.
Detective Superintendent Iain Moor from Cambridgeshire Police expressed regret to Mrs. Crown’s family for «errors» during the initial investigation in 2013. By utilizing a DNA testing method that was unavailable at the time, the police were able to challenge David Newton’s claims that he had not seen Mrs. Crown on the day or days leading up to her death. «For more than a decade, he believed he had escaped punishment for this heinous crime, but today’s outcome demonstrates that you cannot elude justice indefinitely,» added Mr. Moor. Newton is scheduled to be sentenced at the same court on February 14.
SOURCE