The new episodes of 24 Hours in Police Custody shine a spotlight on a truly harrowing case: the murder of Una Crown, a defenceless 86-year-old, at the hands of her neighbour, David Newton, who is now in his seventies.
The killing took place in 2013, but police initially struggled to pin down the perpetrator – however, as 24 Hours in Police Custody: The Cold Case Murder reveals, a lengthy police investigation and subsequent DNA testing ultimately led to Newton.
This is what we know about the murder of Una Crown and where David Newton is now, plus how he was caught...
Who murdered Una Crown?
Una Crown was a former postmistress living in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire. On 12 January 2013, her home was broken into and she was brutally stabbed by David Newton, a man living nearby who had previously helped her out with odd DIY jobs, such as repairing a broken lock.
A statement from Crown's family, read out in court, described her as "an elderly widow watching her favourite TV programme feeling warm and safe in her own home" at the time of her murder.
Crown was also described as a slight lady, of only 4 feet 10 inches in height. "Although advanced in years, she was vigorously independent," the court heard during Newton's trial. "She cooked, cleaned and cared for herself. She enjoyed the company of friends, family and neighbours. She was described by her family as 'feisty', not afraid to speak her mind or to stand up for herself."
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Judge Justice Neil Garnham said during sentencing remarks it appeared Newton entered Crown's home seeking company initially: "You had a history of going into other people’s property, uninvited, simply in search of conversation and company. You had attempted to visit some female relatives of yours in the town earlier that evening. And in my view, that was what brought you to Mrs Crown’s door. You wanted to have someone to talk to. Having the key to her door just made that easier."
When Crown confronted Newton, he grabbed a knife and stabbed her multiple times, then attempted to cover up his crime by setting her body and home alight.
How was David Newton caught?
After the case initially went cold, Cambridgeshire Police re-opened it a decade later and, thanks to advancements in technology, could re-examine the DNA found under Crown's fingernails. They identified that it belonged to a male and after scouring their database and following leads, they were led to Newton – a man who lived close by to Crown's bungalow in Wisbech.
Speaking about the re-opening of the case, Det Supt Iain Moor said when he joined the Major Crime Unit his wife urged him to re-investigate what had happened to Crown.
"For more than a decade David Newton thought he had gotten away with this most horrendous crime. He was hiding in plain sight, but jurors saw through his lies and as this programme highlights, you cannot hide forever," said Moor. "No unsolved murder case is ever closed."
He added, "I’m immensely proud of bringing Newton to justice after more than a decade, and finally getting justice and closure for Una’s family. Una, by the actions she took on that night, solved her own case as she fought her attacker."
Neighbours later told press that they would see Newton walking past Crown's house in the years following her murder, labelling it a brazen move.
During his sentencing remarks, the judge said the initial police investigation into Crown's death was mishandled and that her family had received an apology.
Where is murderer David Newton now?
In February 2025, Newton (after pleading not guilty) was sentenced to a minimum of 21 years in prison for the murder of Crown.
During his sentencing, Judge Garnham described Newton as having implemented "a ferocious and sustained knife attack on a defenceless old lady in her own home".
Newton remains in prison today.
