David Newton murdered Una Crown. He stabbed her, set her clothes on fire, and called her a “very nice lady”.
Newton, 70, from Wisbech, attacked 86-year-old Mrs. Crown in her home on January 13, 2013. He punctured her heart and lungs, and slit her throat.
A judge sentenced Newton to life in prison with a minimum term of 21 years, including the 304 days he already spent in custody. The judge noted that Mrs. Crown was 86 and lived alone in Wisbech.
She was a small woman, just four foot ten, and very independent. Her family said she was feisty, speaking her mind and standing up for herself. Newton knew her as a neighbor, doing odd jobs for her and talking to her.
The judge said given his view of her, the events of January 13, 2013, were shocking. Newton illegally entered Mrs. Crown’s home, and she likely confronted him, telling him to leave.
He then violently attacked Mrs. Crown, inflicting blunt force trauma to her head. Newton stabbed Mrs. Crown several times, one wound going through her heart and lungs.
Newton lit her clothes and other fires to destroy crime evidence. Prosecutors said Newton used a walking stick and was drunk, but the judge lacked proof for these claims.
The judge said Newton often entered properties uninvited, seeking conversation and company. Mrs. Crown must have been terrified when he attacked her in her home.
He said the knife attack was sustained on a defenseless, older lady. Then, he tried to hide his actions by starting fires to destroy evidence.
After the attack, Newton stole money and went to a local club, wanting to appear innocent. The judge said he did not plan the murder, but his intent was to kill during the attack.
Aggravating factors included her age, small size, blunt force trauma, and the repeated use of the large knife at night in her home after he trespassed. Mitigating factors included Newton’s age and health, as he had depression, asthma, arthritis, and difficulty remembering things.
The judge noted police failures, stating they initially did not see it as suspicious and delayed preserving the scene, calling the case ‘mishandled’ initially. Yet, he acknowledged the investigation became impressive later.