A WIDOW’S bloody fingerprints helped snare her killer 12 years after she was murdered and set alight at her home.
Una Crown, 86, was discovered in a pool of blood by family members at her bungalow in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, in January 2013.
The retired postmistress had been knifed in the neck and chest and her clothes were set alight in a bid to disguise her injuries.
Police initially believed Una had died from a heart attack when she accidentally set herself alight when trying to extinguish a fire from a faulty hob ring.
Officers also believed the marks on her throat were caused by the pressure from a scarf as her body hit the floor and waited two days to preserve the horror scene.
But after a post-mortem in 2015 found Una had been stabbed, a murder investigation was launched.
Police discovered DNA under the widow’s fingernails that proved suspect David Newton was behind the gruesome killing.
The 70-year-old was today found guilty of murder – just over 12 years after carrying out the slaughter.
Cambridge Police have now released an image of the bloody fingernails that helped snare Newton.
The force also apologised to Una’s family for “mistakes made during the initial investigation”.
Cambridge Crown Court was told Una was last seen alive two days before the January 13 horror when she went shopping.
She had also spoken to a friend on the phone the day before her body was discovered.
Newton was seen drunkenly walking from the direction of Una’s home at about 8.30pm on January 13.
He was interviewed but denied any involvement and claimed he only knew the pensioner “in passing”.
After the case was re-opened, officers were able to place him at the scene thanks to advances in DNA.
Police also discovered Newton was living on benefits at the time but was seen “playing “spending freely” on fruit machines at a club on the night of Una’s death.
Money had been taken from the widow’s purse but no motive for the murder has ever been given.
Una suffered cuts to her throat and four stab wounds from a “long-bladed” instrument, a post-mortem revealed.
One went through both sides of her chest, passing “through both lungs and the heart”, and Una also exhibited defensive injuries.
On top of setting fire to her clothes, Newton had started a blaze in two other areas of the home as he tried to hide what he’d done.
Newton was a familiar site in Wisbech and was often seen stumbling around in a drunken stupor.
It’s unclear how the retired kitchen fitter made his way into Una’s home as there was no sign of forced entry and she did not enjoy anyone, including family, entering her spotless home.
The court, however, heard Newton had offered to help her fix her back door, at some point in time and had gone to a local locksmith’s to have a new key cut.
Una was found dead in her hallway by John Payne, her nephew-in-law, who had driven around to her house to collect her for Sunday lunch at her niece’s home.
While Una’s death remained a mystery for years, nail clippings taken during a post-mortem examination in 2013 were found to contain “male DNA” with a profile that matched Newton ten years later.
Police said these nails made it 28,000 times more likely he was the killer than anyone else.
‘WE HAVE TRIED TO MOVE ON BUT IT HAS BEEN HORRENDOUS’
Detective Superintendent Iain Moor of Cambridgeshire Police said: “The DNA allowed us to cast doubt on David Newton’s claims that he hadn’t seen Una on the day, or days, before her death and place him at the scene of her murder.
“For more than a decade he thought he had gotten away with this most horrendous crime, but today’s result shows you cannot hide forever.”
Newton did not give evidence during his trial and no witnesses were called by his defence counsel.
Mr Justice Garnham said he would sentence Newton tomorrow, saying: “The principle sentence I will pass by law is life. I have to determine the minimum sentence to be served and that’s what I’ll do tomorrow.”
Una’s family released a statement at the end of the trial.
Her niece, Julia Green, said: “Firstly, thank you to Mr Price KC, for representing the crown and our family.
“In 2013 we heard our Auntie Una had passed away. Two days later we heard it was murder and our worlds stopped.
“An elderly widow watching her favourite TV programme, feeling warm and safe in her own home. The attack was brutal, horrific and an assault on a defenceless frail elderly widow.
“The verdict today has prevented him from causing further distress and misery to others. Since her untimely and savage death, three close family relatives, including her brother, have sadly passed away not knowing her killer has been brought to justice.
“We’d like to thank all who have helped get us to this point today and we can now carry on with our lives knowing justice has been done.”
Speaking previously about the near-disastrous handling of the case, Una’s niece Judy Payne said: “We have tried to move on but it has been horrendous.”
Newton will be sentenced tomorrow.
