Police apologise for mistakes during investigation of Wisbech woman Una Crown’s murder as David Newton found guilty of killing her

Police have apologised for their mistakes in the Una Crown murder investigation after David Newton was found guilty today.

Detective Superintendent Iain Moor, senior investigating officer, said that justice has finally been secured for Mrs Crown and her family, 12 years after her death.

This comes after the jury finally delivered a verdict that Newton, 70, is guilty of murdering Mrs Crown after she was fatally stabbed multiple times in the neck and chest. Her body was also set on fire.

Officers have released images of the fingernail clippings where Newton’s DNA was found, as well as photographs of her home at the time she was found.

Det Iain Moor said: “Today we have finally secured justice for Una and her family 12 years after her death.

“Mistakes were made during the initial investigation in 2013, for which we have apologised to Una’s family.

“Once again, we acknowledge those errors and apologise it has taken this long for Una’s family to get justice. However, my aim as the senior investigating officer when I took on this role in the past few years was to make sure they didn't wait any longer.

“When we had a fresh look at this case as part of our normal review processes in October 2022, we were committed to finding the person responsible for Una’s death and ensuring they were brought to justice.

“Vital evidence was retained from the 2013 crime scene, in the form of DNA under the fingernails of Una Crown’s right hand. It was through pioneering new techniques, testing for male DNA only, that gave the evidence breakthrough which has been so crucial. This DNA testing technique was not available in 2013.

“The DNA allowed us to cast doubt on David Newton’s claims that he hadn’t seen Una on the day, or days, before her death and place him at the scene of her murder. 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.

“I would like to commend the 2013 team and current investigation team for their painstaking work. We have been supported by incredible experts, witnesses and specialists who have helped us discover who was responsible.

“In total there were 10,580 items of material to sort through, which could have had a bearing on this case either way, to disclose to the court. This has been the largest ever general disclosure exercise for the force, for which we have utilised many former officers’ expertise.

“We had six people working full time for six months to go through this relevant material. Some single disclosure items were 100 pages long, highlighting the scale of this huge undertaking.

“In 2013 an 86-year-old widow was robbed of her life. Nothing can take the pain of this heart-breaking case away, but I hope today’s verdict gives Una’s family the closure they deserve and the answers they have longed for. My thoughts are very much with them at this time.

“Finally, this case demonstrates the police commitment to continually reviewing unsolved cases and seeking new lines of enquiry. No unsolved murder case is ever closed.”

Newton is set to be sentenced at Cambridge Crown Court tomorrow.

Judge Justice Garnham thanked the jury for having spent 29 hours and 13 minutes deliberating on the case, and has excused them from taking part in additional jury duty for the next ten years if they so wish.

Retired Detective Inspector David Grierson, who took on the case as SIO in 2013 before retiring a year later, said Newton had continually lied about his movements over the weekend of the murder and his knowledge of Mrs Crown and her house.

He said: “We all appreciated but did not dwell on the lost opportunities caused by the initial response to Una’s death.

“From leaving the force until 2023, I have kept a close eye on the case and am very pleased with the verdict today.

“I’m immensely proud of the initial investigation, the professionalism shown by the investigation team under challenging circumstances and grateful to the new team led by Det Supt Moor who finalised the case.

“I am especially pleased for Una Crown’s family who have had to wait a long time for this day. Despite the initial failings, her family have remained supportive of the investigation.”

In a family statement released at the conclusion of the trial Julia Green, Una Crown's niece, said: "Firstly, thank you to Mr Price KC, for representing the crown and our family.

"In 2013 we heard our Auntie Una had passed away. Two days later we heard it was murder and our world’s stopped. An elderly widow watching her favourite TV programme, feeling warm and safe in her own home. The attack was brutal, horrific and an assault on a defenceless frail elderly widow.

"The verdict today has prevented him causing further distress and misery to others. Since her untimely and savage death, three close family relatives, including her brother, have sadly passed away not knowing her killer has been brought to justice.

“We’d like to thank all who have helped get us to this point today and we can now carry on with our lives knowing justice has been done.”

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