'Mistakes made' by police in death of Wisbech woman, court told
David Newton is standing trial for the murder of 86-year-old Una Crown
Last updated 17th Jan 2025
Police admitted that "mistakes were made" in how it handled an investigation into the death of an 86-year-old woman, a court has heard.
Despite the discovery of Una Crown's body on January 13, 2013, jurors heard the case was not treated as a murder investigation until much later.
Mrs Crown was found with her throat cut, four stab wounds to her chest and her clothing set on fire.
Her death was initially treated as non-suspicious by police.
It was 11 years after Mrs Crown was found dead in her bungalow on Magazine Lane, Wisbech that David Newton was charged with her murder, which he denies.
Colleague told not to let anyone in
Roderick James, cross-examining former police officer Simon Gledhill, for the defence, told Cambridge Crown Court key mistakes made during the initial investigation may have compromised key evidence.
Mr Gledhill attended Mrs Crown's house with a colleague.
Mr Gledhill told jurors by video link that "in hindsight, the best thing that could’ve happened would’ve been to open the door for nobody to enter.
"There needs to be some degree of investigative action, but mistakes were made."
Mr Gledhill said that a number of people had entered the bungalow, including paramedics, fire service personnel and police officers.
He told jurors that he said to a colleague not to let anybody into Mrs Crown's house when they arrived.
Despite attempts to prevent contamination, Mr Gledhill acknowledged that too many people were allowed to move freely throughout the property.
'No attempt to protect scene'
Mr Gledhill said "we didn’t make an attempt to protect the scene, which in hindsight, was a terrible mistake."
He told jurors he disagreed with Mr James about how little was done to prevent contamination, and that he wore gloves when handling Mrs Crown's body.
But when asked if he saw anyone else wearing protective clothing while inside Mrs Crown's house, Mr Gledhill replied "other than gloves, no."
Mr James also questioned Mr Gledhill about his actions at the scene, particularly whether he had handled Una's body.
Asked if he had touched Mrs Crown's body on "at least four separate occasions", Mr Gledhill said he was "unsure".
Jurors heard Mr Gledhill recall a paramedic who appeared to be "rummaging through the drawers" in Mrs Crown's house to find medication she may have been taking.
Mr Gledhill said that a paramedic - who got blood on his finger - transferred this onto a light switch.
He stated that "by the time the undertakers came, we didn’t make an attempt to protect the scene."
Addressing the court, Mr Gledhill said he would "take responsibility" for how police handled the initial stages of the murder investigation and apologised to Mrs Crown's family.
The trial continues.