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| Una Crown murder: Family concerned by initial police response | Una Crown murder: Family concerned by initial police response |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The family of an elderly woman found dead in her Cambridgeshire home has said police took too long to begin a murder investigation. | The family of an elderly woman found dead in her Cambridgeshire home has said police took too long to begin a murder investigation. |
| The burnt body of Una Crown, 86, was discovered at her house in Magazine Lane, Wisbech on 13 January. | The burnt body of Una Crown, 86, was discovered at her house in Magazine Lane, Wisbech on 13 January. |
| Family members visiting the house on 15 January said it resembled "a crime scene", but an investigation was not launched until the following day. | Family members visiting the house on 15 January said it resembled "a crime scene", but an investigation was not launched until the following day. |
| Cambridgeshire Police will meet the family later to discuss their concerns. | Cambridgeshire Police will meet the family later to discuss their concerns. |
| The official murder investigation began on 16 January, following a post-mortem examination which concluded Mrs Crown had been stabbed repeatedly, including through the heart and lungs. | The official murder investigation began on 16 January, following a post-mortem examination which concluded Mrs Crown had been stabbed repeatedly, including through the heart and lungs. |
| 'Felt guilty' | 'Felt guilty' |
| Her body had then been set alight in what police believe was an attempt to cover up the murder, which took place some time on 11 January, between 17:00 and 22:00 GMT. | Her body had then been set alight in what police believe was an attempt to cover up the murder, which took place some time on 11 January, between 17:00 and 22:00 GMT. |
| Her niece discovered the body the following morning. | Her niece discovered the body the following morning. |
| Mrs Crown's brother, Terry White, 75, visited the house with other family members two days later, "to start clearing her things away". | Mrs Crown's brother, Terry White, 75, visited the house with other family members two days later, "to start clearing her things away". |
| At that time, he said police had not asked the family to stay out of the bungalow. | At that time, he said police had not asked the family to stay out of the bungalow. |
| He said he thought they should have acted sooner, "because of what they could see". | He said he thought they should have acted sooner, "because of what they could see". |
| "It was obviously a crime scene. It wasn't an accident," he said. | "It was obviously a crime scene. It wasn't an accident," he said. |
| "You wouldn't stab yourself, would you?" | "You wouldn't stab yourself, would you?" |
| "The fires, where the body was laid, her slipper laid there - it wasn't just a straightforward burglary," Mr White said. | "The fires, where the body was laid, her slipper laid there - it wasn't just a straightforward burglary," Mr White said. |
| "Someone had made an attempt to cover things up. | "Someone had made an attempt to cover things up. |
| "At the time we were thinking, 'They've got to do forensics and things, and we shouldn't be touching things'. We felt guilty about it." | "At the time we were thinking, 'They've got to do forensics and things, and we shouldn't be touching things'. We felt guilty about it." |
| In a statement, Cambridgeshire Police said: "We are in regular contact with Una's family via a family liaison officer and we are due to meet them this afternoon (30 April). | In a statement, Cambridgeshire Police said: "We are in regular contact with Una's family via a family liaison officer and we are due to meet them this afternoon (30 April). |
| "Any complaint about police actions will be fully investigated. In light of this, it would be inappropriate to discuss the issues further at this time." | "Any complaint about police actions will be fully investigated. In light of this, it would be inappropriate to discuss the issues further at this time." |
| Detectives investigating the case made an appeal for witnesses on the BBC's Crimewatch programme on Monday. | Detectives investigating the case made an appeal for witnesses on the BBC's Crimewatch programme on Monday. |
| They are particularly keen to trace the murder weapon, a 10in (25cm) kitchen knife which they believe the killer brought with him or her. | |
| A £10,000 reward has been offered by independent charity Crimestoppers for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of Mrs Crown's killer. | A £10,000 reward has been offered by independent charity Crimestoppers for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of Mrs Crown's killer. |
| A 58-year-old man arrested in late January in connection with the investigation remains on bail until 15 May. | A 58-year-old man arrested in late January in connection with the investigation remains on bail until 15 May. |