Wisbech murder suspect was 'unnerving' towards neighbour, court hears
Jurors are continuing to hear evidence in the trial of David Newton
Last updated 28th Jan 2025
The former neighbour of a man who's accused of murdering an 86-year-old woman in Wisbech has told jurors how he acted at her home was "unnerving".
David Newton, 70, denies murdering Una Crown at her home in Magazine Lane in January 2013.
Paula Birch - who appeared by video link - told jurors at Cambridge Crown Court about how Newton came to her home to help with "a set of drawers" when they were neighbours in the summer of 2012.
Ms Birch said she'd ask Newton to help with jobs around the house since she moved in around 20 years ago.
Prosecuting, John Price KC asked Ms Birch when Newton had been to visit her home, if she has "noticed anything about him?"
Ms Birch replied that he would "sometimes be a bit drunk by the way he spoke and you could smell the alcohol (on Newton)."
She told jurors she'd leave her bedroom window open in the evenings after going to bed "normally around 7.30pm".
Ms Birch - who has mobility issues - said Newton was aware of these and "would sometimes knock on the door" and if there wasn't a response, "he'd come to the bedroom window and pull the curtain back to talk to me".
Ms Birch, who has a carer visit twice a day, told the court she'd usually be on her own in the evenings and that Newton "would come to the window and say 'it's me'."
Usually, Ms Birch said she'd close the curtains and open her bedroom window to which Newton "would push the curtain back.
"He wouldn't ask for permission before doing; he'd ask if I was okay and if there was anything I needed."
Jurors then heard that Ms Birch would tell Newton to leave but that he "didn't always leave (and) would probably hover outside and have a fag."
Mr Price asked if this has happened more than once and Ms Birch agreed.
"It would make me feel unnerving as I couldn't get out my bed to close my window," she said.
Ms Birch also claimed Newton would come into her home "sometimes saying who he was and other times, not saying (who he was)".
On some occasions, Ms Birch said he wasn't invited and at those times, Newton "would knock and just come in".
The trial continues.