Wife of Wisbech murder suspect learnt about death 'on teletext', jurors told
David Newton continues to stand trial
Last updated 28th Jan 2025
The late wife of a man accused of murdering an 86-year-old woman in Wisbech found out about her death three days after her body was found, a court has heard.
David Newton, 70, denies murdering Una Crown at her home on Magazine Lane in January 2013.
Jurors at Cambridge Crown Court heard from Newton's wife Janet - who died in 2018 - in a police interview the same month that Mrs Crown's body was discovered.
Newton chose not to sit inside the secure dock while the recording was played to the court.
In the recording, Mrs Newton told police she didn't "really know anything about her (Mrs Crown).
"I've spoken to her (in the past) and ask 'are you alright, nice day?' and that's about it."
Wife learnt of death three days later
Mrs Newton told police at the time that she last saw Mrs Crown while walking the dog before Christmas in 2012.
The court heard from Mrs Newton about how her husband helped Mrs Crown with jobs around the house and "if she needed anything doing, she'd just phone him."
Mrs Newton said she thought Mrs Crown gave David Newton her contact number and was unaware of anyone else doing tasks inside Mrs Crown's house.
When asked by police about January 12, 2013 - the day before Mrs Crown's body was found - Mrs Newton said she returned home from a trip into Wisbech and was “mostly watching the telly’ for the rest of that day.
Mrs Newton said the defendant came home from walking the dog that afternoon for "about half an hour".
When asked by police what he was up to from 5pm onwards that day, Mrs Newton said she ‘can’t remember; I don’t think he went out that night, (he was) sat watching snooker."
Mrs Newton claimed to police that she learned about Mrs Crown's death "on that Wednesday after (Mrs Crown's body was found) on teletext".
The trial continues.