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Wisbech murder suspect David Newton had intruded on women’s privacy in the past, court hears




A jury has heard how a Wisbech man accused of murder had intruded on women’s privacy in their own homes in the past.

Cambridge Crown Court heard how David Newton, 70, of Magazine Close, had been into the homes of two women, uninvited, at inappropriate times both before and after the murder of Una Crown, who was killed in her bungalow around the corner from Newton on Magazine Lane.

Newton denies murdering Mrs Crown, which has led to the current trial.

Una Crown was murdered 12 years ago at her home on Magazine Lane in Wisbech
Una Crown was murdered 12 years ago at her home on Magazine Lane in Wisbech

The 86-year-old was found with multiple stab wounds to the neck and chest. Her body was also set on fire.

Today, day nine, the jury heard a statement read out from Wisbech resident Carol Hall, who knew Newton - she has since passed away.

Mrs Hall, by marriage, was a distant relative of Una Crown’s and knew Newton through both of their children.

Una Crown pictured with her husband - it is now 12 years since she was murdered.
Una Crown pictured with her husband - it is now 12 years since she was murdered.

She was widowed at the time in 2000 when Newton came to her home address asking if she wanted to buy some raffle tickets.

She gave him £1 and then went to shut the door. She was wearing a dressing gown and went to get dressed.

However, when in her underwear, she suddenly saw Newton at her bedroom door.

He then said to her: “Carol, I have always loved you. You know me.”

The last sighting of Una was on a shopping trip.
The last sighting of Una was on a shopping trip.

Mrs Hall responded: “You better get gone” and asked him to leave.

She said that Newton was “yapping on” and was “probably drunk”.

Newton’s next-door neighbour, Paula Birch, told the court that Newton had entered her home multiple times when uninvited.

Una Crown was killed in her bungalow home in Magazine Lane.
Una Crown was killed in her bungalow home in Magazine Lane.

Ms Birch, who relies on a carer, said that when she had gone to bed, Newton would knock at the door and not get an answer and would then speak to her through an open window.

When she told Newton she was going to bed, he would stand outside her property smoking a cigarette.

Newton would often ask if she was okay and if she needed anything.

Ms Birch said that Newton would sometimes knock on the door, open it, and go inside anyway.

One time he did this, his next-door neighbour was in the shower and he was asked to leave by her carer.

Many of Newton’s police interviews, when he was questioned as both a witness and a suspect, were read out.

Newton denied the incident with Mrs Hall ever happening, calling it “ridiculous”.

He also denied making previous remarks to his aunt, when she recalled him offering to massage her elbow and comparing her to Marilyn Monroe.

When interviewed a few weeks after Mrs Crown’s death on February 1, he said he couldn’t remember going to the Wisbech Ex-Servicemen’s Club on the day of the murder and the day after. He was seen on CCTV at the club on both January 12 and 13.

He was asked about how he was able to afford to spend a total of nine hours in the club, where he was seen on CCTV playing on a fruit machine and buying drinks.

The police who were questioning him at the time pointed out that Newton would normally only spend an hour or two in the club.

Newton, who was unemployed and claiming benefits, said he either “had money at home” or that he borrowed some from his wife. He denied taking any money from Mrs Crown.

He also claimed that his wife, Janet Newton, had given him £80 cash to put into his bank account two days after Mrs Crown’s murder.

Newton also denied neighbour Derek Mason’s account that Una Crown had told him that Newton had invited himself over for tea, which concerned her. Newton also denied saying this.

He also denied his wife’s account that he took Mrs Crown’s back door key to get a new one cut after he helped fix her back door in 2012.

Newton said in an interview that took place last June when he was re-arrested on suspicion of her murder, that he had “nothing to do” with the killing of Mrs Crown.

Not up to date with what’s been said in court? Click the following links to find previous coverage of day one, two three , four, five, six, seven and eight via these links.

The trial continues.



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