DNA find on widow led to murder charge, jury told

A man accused of murdering an 86-year-old widow was charged after new DNA evidence emerged a decade later, a jury has been told.

Una Crown, who was found dead at her home in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire in 2013, had been been stabbed four times and had her throat cut, a prosecution barrister told a trial at Cambridge Crown Court.

David Newton, 70, was charged in 2024 after DNA matching his profile was found on nail clippings taken from Mrs Crown's right hand in 2013.

Mr Newton, who lived near Mrs Crown in Wisbech, denies her murder.

Mrs Crown, a retired postmistress, was found dead on the floor of her bungalow in Magazine Lane on 13 January 2013.

Mr Newton, of nearby Magazine Close, was charged in April 2024.

A judge, Mr Justice Garnham, began overseeing a trial on Tuesday.

Mr Newton had entered a not guilty plea at an earlier hearing.

John Price KC has begun outlining prosecution evidence.

Jurors are not expected to start hearing from witnesses until later in the week.

Mr Price told jurors Mr Newton had been arrested on suspicion of murder in January 2013, before being released without charge.

He also said there had a two-day delay in preserving the scene due to a "grave error of judgement by police officers" who did not deem Mrs Crown's death suspicious.

Mr Price said there was "no doubt" Mrs Crown was victim of murder.

He said the prosecution argued Mr Newton murdered Mrs Crown on the evening of Saturday, 12 January - then set fire to her body.

January 2013: Una Crown's body found

January 2013: David Newton arrested on suspicion of murder

February 2013: Mr Newton released on bail

June 2013: Mr Newton interviewed again - and again released on bail

July 2013: Mr Newton told he would not be charged

April 2024: Mr Newton charged with murder

January 2025: Trial begins

Mr Price said the prosecution relied on "a combination of several different pieces of evidence".

"At their heart is scientific evidence," he said.

"It's male DNA, the profile of which matches that of David Newton and which was discovered by scientists in 2023 on nail clippings, which had been taken from the fingers and thumb of the unburnt right hand of Una Crown."

He said the clippings had been taken at a post-mortem examination in 2013.

Mr Price added: "After he had killed her, he set fire to her body, and at some time while he was in the house, he set.... two other fires."

He said Mrs Crown's body was discovered after she failed to answer the door when a friend called.

Julie Buckle, a carer visiting one of Mrs Crown's neighbours, went into the bungalow, using a spare key, and smelled "burning", he said.

Ms Buckle made a 999 call, which was played to jurors, telling police how she found Mrs Crown lying "face down into the carpet" and "either blood or body fluids around her".

The carer could be heard telling an operator "something weird" had happened.

"I think she set fire to herself," Ms Buckle had said.

"There are burnt cinders."

She had told of a "strong smell of burning" in the bungalow.

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