David Newton charged with murder of Una Crown in Wisbech

Retired postmistress Una Crown, 86, was found by a relative in a pool of blood and with her clothing burnt in the hallway of her bungalow on Magazine Lane, Wisbech, in January 2013.

David Newton, 69, of nearby Magazine Close, was remanded into custody today following a one-minute long hearing at Cambridge Magistrates' Court.David Newton, who has been charged with the murder of Una Crown (Image: Newsquest)

He is next due to appear for a hearing before Cambridge Crown Court on Thursday.

Mrs Crown’s death was initially treated as an accident when she was found at her home on January 13, 2013, before a murder investigation was launched days later.

No details about the case were heard during Tuesday’s hearing.

Newton, who appeared in the secure dock of the court wearing black glasses and a brown jumper, was not asked to enter a plea.

In 2016 Newton, who was described at the time as a full-time carer for his wife, Janet, was given an award for donating his 101st pint of blood.

He began after giving up his hobby of boxing and was a regular at donor sessions at the Queen Mary Centre in Wisbech.

Una Crown, who was found at her bungalow in Wisbech in 2013 (Image: Submitted)

Newton, who has three grown-up daughters, said: "I used to bleed profusely if I got a knock on the nose and I just thought it would be a good idea to start giving blood when I stopped boxing."

Newton received a special certificate and award when he gave his 100th pint and said he hoped to double it.

Police outside Una Crown's home in 2013 (Image: Ian Burt)

The Una Crown case has been the subject of repeated appeals over the years and was also featured on BBC's Crimewatch.

Police insisted it would never be closed and they would investigate any new leads or information which emerged.

A number of arrests have also been made but no-one had previously been charged.