Jail for at least 21 years for widow killing

12 years ago, a man who murdered an 86 -year -old widow was sentenced to life imprisonment after re -examining the DNA evidence from his victim’s nails.

The body of retired postmistress Una Crown was found on 13 January 2013 in her bungalow in Visbech, Cambrisshire. He was stabbed four times and his throat was cut.

The Cambrisshire police did not consider his death as suspicious until two days later, but 70 -year -old neighbor David Newton, who was arrested earlier, but was then released, was eventually accused last April.

A judge in the Cambridge Crown Court, where a jury found Newton guilty of murder on Thursday, said he would have to spend at least 21 years in jail.

Prior to the court hearing, Mrs. Crown’s niece Judi Payne told the BBC that she could “smile again” after Newton’s convict.

The body of Mrs Crown was discovered by relatives in her home hallway who took her for Sunday afternoon.

Police officials initially considered the death as “unexplained”. This meant that the police, firefighters, paramedics and Undertaker all went around the house and some touched the Mrs. Crown’s body to move things.

It was not two days later – after the post -mortem examination – that death was finally considered suspicious.

The Cambrisshire police admitted that “mistakes were made during the initial investigation in 2013” and they apologized to the family of Mrs. Crown.

However, at the time of her death, DNA, taken from Mrs. Crown nails, was retracted by forensic scientists for 10 years, causing Newton’s allegations.

He was found guilty of killing him by a majority of 10 to two gamblers.

During the sentencing hearing, Barrister Claire Mathews told the prosecution team that Mrs Crown was stabbed with a “very long” knife of at least 24 cm (9.5in) – but there was no evidence of the sexual attack Was.

Newton had tried to destroy her body by setting her body on fire and used weapons – knife and Mrs. Crown -running stick – in the attack, she said.