Cambridgeshire Police are questioning a man over the murder of retired widow Una Crown, who was found in her bungalow in Wisbech in January 2013 in what detectives initially thought was an accident
Detectives probing the murder of a pensioner found dead in her bungalow have arrested a man more than a decade on.
Retired postmistress Una Crown was discovered in a pool of blood with her clothing burnt in her hallway at her home in Wisbech, Cambs., in January 2013. Her death was initially treated as an accident after she was found by emergency workers, following concerns being raised by family and neighbours.
The investigation changed course however when it became a murder enquiry. Cambridgeshire Police said on Monday however that a 69-year-old man from Wisbech had been arrested on suspicion of murdering Ms Crown. At the time, an inquest ruled Ms Crown had died as a result of unlawful killing. Her niece Judy Payne told the hearing the family were left “lost for words” by what had happened.
Detective Inspector Frasey Wylie said in the inquest that Ms Crown’s death had not initially been picked up as a murder investigation. “Our inquiries to catch the killer continue to this day and it is still very much a live investigation,” he told the hearing.
Detective Superintendent Paul Fullwood also said at the time: “Someone out there knows what happened to Mrs Crown on the day she was brutally attacked and I urge them to do the right thing and come forward.” The force said on Monday that the suspect was arrested that morning, and remained in custody at a police station in Peterborough.
In January of this year, police launched a fresh appeal for information over Mrs Crown’s death. Detective Superintendent Iain Moor, from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit, said at the time of the appeal: “It has now been 11 years since Mrs Crown’s tragic death and we still seek justice for her family.”
The force said that Mrs Crown was last seen alive on January 11, 2013 and had spoken to a friend on the phone at about 5pm on January 12, the day before she was found dead. Police said that a post-mortem examination recorded that she died from stab wounds to her neck and chest.
Following the news, niece Ms Payne – who has long campaigned for answers over her aunt’s death, declined to comment on the development. The 80-year-old said: “I’m not in a position to say anything on the matter as of yet.”
