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| Una Crown: Jury out in Wisbech widow murder trial | |
| (3 days later) | |
| Retired postmistress Una Crown was found dead in her bungalow 12 years ago | Retired postmistress Una Crown was found dead in her bungalow 12 years ago |
| Jurors have begun considering a verdict in the trial of a 70-year-old man accused of murdering an 86-year-old widow 12 years ago. | Jurors have begun considering a verdict in the trial of a 70-year-old man accused of murdering an 86-year-old widow 12 years ago. |
| Retired postmistress Una Crown was found dead at her bungalow in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, on 13 January 2013. | Retired postmistress Una Crown was found dead at her bungalow in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, on 13 January 2013. |
| David Newton, 70, who denies murder, lived near Mrs Crown and was charged in 2024 after new DNA evidence emerged. | David Newton, 70, who denies murder, lived near Mrs Crown and was charged in 2024 after new DNA evidence emerged. |
| The judge, Mr Justice Garnham, asked jurors to retire to consider a verdict on Thursday after a trial at Cambridge Crown Court lasting more than three weeks. | The judge, Mr Justice Garnham, asked jurors to retire to consider a verdict on Thursday after a trial at Cambridge Crown Court lasting more than three weeks. |
| David Newton has denied murdering 86-year-old widow Una Crown | David Newton has denied murdering 86-year-old widow Una Crown |
| The trial heard Mrs Crown's body was found in the hallway of her home on Magazine Lane in the Fenland town. | The trial heard Mrs Crown's body was found in the hallway of her home on Magazine Lane in the Fenland town. |
| Prosecutors alleged that Mr Newton, of neighbouring Magazine Close, started fires at the bungalow after stabbing Mrs Crown to death. | Prosecutors alleged that Mr Newton, of neighbouring Magazine Close, started fires at the bungalow after stabbing Mrs Crown to death. |
| An acting police sergeant who initially investigated believed Mrs Crown had died accidentally, jurors heard. | An acting police sergeant who initially investigated believed Mrs Crown had died accidentally, jurors heard. |
| But a post-mortem examination two days later showed she had been stabbed four times and her throat cut. | But a post-mortem examination two days later showed she had been stabbed four times and her throat cut. |
| Police initially thought Una Crown's death was not suspicious | Police initially thought Una Crown's death was not suspicious |
| Jurors were told that DNA matching Mr Newton was, in 2023, found on nail clippings taken from Mrs Crown's right hand in 2013. | Jurors were told that DNA matching Mr Newton was, in 2023, found on nail clippings taken from Mrs Crown's right hand in 2013. |
| But prosecutors said Mr Newton was not charged because of DNA evidence alone. | But prosecutors said Mr Newton was not charged because of DNA evidence alone. |
| They argued that jurors would have to consider a "jigsaw" of evidence. | They argued that jurors would have to consider a "jigsaw" of evidence. |
| John Price KC, who led the prosecution team, suggested that Mrs Crown might have been troubled by the way her attacker was treating her and tried to make a telephone call. | John Price KC, who led the prosecution team, suggested that Mrs Crown might have been troubled by the way her attacker was treating her and tried to make a telephone call. |
| He said her phone was not in its cradle when police arrived. | He said her phone was not in its cradle when police arrived. |
| A trial began at Cambridge Crown Court in mid-January | A trial began at Cambridge Crown Court in mid-January |
| Mr Newton has not given evidence and no defence witnesses were called. | Mr Newton has not given evidence and no defence witnesses were called. |
| But Mr Newton's legal team argued that jurors could not be sure of his guilt. | But Mr Newton's legal team argued that jurors could not be sure of his guilt. |
| His lawyers told jurors that "many, many mistakes" were initially made by police. | His lawyers told jurors that "many, many mistakes" were initially made by police. |
| Henry Grunwald KC, who led the defence legal team, said there were "ways" the DNA matching Mr Newton's profile could have been "transferred" to Mrs Crown's body. | Henry Grunwald KC, who led the defence legal team, said there were "ways" the DNA matching Mr Newton's profile could have been "transferred" to Mrs Crown's body. |
| DNA matching David Newton was found on nail clippings taken from Una Crown's right hand | DNA matching David Newton was found on nail clippings taken from Una Crown's right hand |
| Jurors heard that Mrs Crown was 4ft 10in (1.47m) tall. | Jurors heard that Mrs Crown was 4ft 10in (1.47m) tall. |
| Her husband Jack, who was known as Ron, died in 2009. | Her husband Jack, who was known as Ron, died in 2009. |
| The trial heard that Mr Newton had been a kitchen installer before retiring on health grounds. | The trial heard that Mr Newton had been a kitchen installer before retiring on health grounds. |
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