David Newton jailed for life in 2013 murder of Una Crown

David Newton, a 70-year-old man, has been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 21 years for the 2013 murder of 86-year-old Una Crown, who was found brutally attacked in her home in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire. DNA evidence, retested using modern techniques, linked Newton to the crime after police initially mishandled the investigation, failing to consider the death suspicious for two days. The court heard that Mrs. Crown suffered multiple stab wounds, and her clothing was set on fire, suggesting an attempt to destroy evidence. During the trial, the prosecution noted that while there was no direct evidence of sexual assault, the possibility could not be entirely ruled out. The judge described the attack as a 'ferocious and sustained knife attack' on a defenseless woman. Following the conviction, Cambridgeshire police apologized for their initial handling of the case, acknowledging mistakes were made.