David Newton, 70, gets life for the 2013 murder of Una Crown, 86. DNA from her nails led to his conviction.
Una Crown was 86 years old and was found dead in her home in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, on January 13, 2013. David Newton, 70, lived near Una and installed kitchens before. Police interviewed him long ago, 12 years before this conviction.
Police did not suspect foul play at first and delayed preserving the scene, which the prosecutor called a “grave error” that lasted two days. Newton was told he would not be charged in July 2013, but was charged last year instead because scientists then had better DNA tools to test Una’s nail clippings.
A police leader apologized to Una’s family, saying they made mistakes in 2013 and the initial investigation was flawed. Jurors found Newton guilty with a 10-2 vote after a month-long trial where they deliberated for 29 hours, and he was sentenced Friday.
The judge called it a “ferocious” attack on a “defenceless old lady” who was only 4 foot 10 inches tall, while her family said she was strong-willed. The judge said Newton copied Una’s back door key after helping her with a lock months earlier, but it’s unclear why he entered her house that night.
The judge thinks he didn’t plan to kill or steal, however, he did steal £80 from her purse after the murder, calling it “opportunistic.” He said Newton often entered other people’s homes just wanting company and conversation, and Una must have been terrified by him.
There was a “confrontation,” the judge said, noting her phone was off the hook, suggesting a call for help. The judge also said Newton did not bring a knife, but when Una resisted him, he grabbed a kitchen knife and attacked her. He then tried to burn the house to hide the crime.
Una scratched him during the attack, and his DNA ended up under her nails, which was key evidence. Newton got life in prison, and people in court gasped at the sentence as Newton raised an eyebrow before being led away. He must serve at least 21 years.
Una’s body was found by her niece’s husband, who was picking her up for lunch that Sunday, and the prosecutor said she died the day before. The prosecutor also said they found Newton’s DNA in 2023 on her nail clippings from a 2013 autopsy. Newton’s lawyer said he is very sick and might die in prison, and also said there was no torture; Newton last appeared in court in 2014.