Murder of Una Crown explained

Una Crown
Birth Place:England
Death Place:Wisbech, England
Death Cause:Murder by stabbing

Una Crown (1926/1927 – 13 January 2013) was an 86-year-old widow who was murdered in her bungalow in Wisbech in Cambridgeshire, England, in 2013.[1] Her death was initially treated as unsuspicious but a post-mortem examination on her burned body concluded that she had died from stab wounds to her neck and chest.[2] At least one suspect was arrested but no individuals were charged. The brutality of the case and admission of police failure in the murder investigation gave the case national attention.[3] The case remains unsolved.[4]

Background

Crown was a retired postmistress who lived alone in Wisbech.[5] She had no children.[6] Her husband Jack Roland Crown died in 2009.[7]

Described as "very security-conscious",[8] Crown lived on the outskirts of Wisbech near Elgood's Brewery.[9] She was last seen on 11 January, and spoke to a friend on the telephone at 5pm on 12 January.[9]

Murder investigation

On 13 January 2013, Crown was found dead in the hallway of her bungalow in Magazine Lane, Wisbech, by her nephew-in-law John Payne.[10] She was found surrounded by blood and burned newspaper;[11] her body was burned but the fire had not spread to the rest of the house and had self-extinguished.[12] Crown had been robbed of her wedding ring, front door key, and £40,[13] and her clothing had been burned, apparently to destroy evidence.[14]

Two attending police officers concluded the death was not suspicious, as they had thought she had accidentally set herself on fire via the stove, which she tried to put out with a tea towel, and had then died from a heart attack.[15] The police investigation concluded that "two slits to her throat" had most likely been torn by pressure from the scarf as her body fell to the floor.[3] A post-mortem on 15 January, however, found that Crown had been stabbed to death and a murder investigation was launched.[16] [17] Because of the police's initial conclusion Crown's house had not been treated as a murder investigation crime scene, and evidence including a key had been washed.

Crown's funeral was held at King's Lynn Crematorium on 25 February 2013.[18] [19] In April 2013, Dainius Stelmokas admitted to burgling Crown's home on 4 April and stealing a number of electronic items.[20] [21] The same month, a reconstruction and appeal was made by Crimewatch.[22]

On 17 June 2014, two men were arrested in connection to Crown's death but were released without charge.[23] [24] In March 2023, a reward of up to £20,000 was offered by Crimestoppers for any information leading to a conviction.[25] [26] The same month the case was featured again on Crimewatch.[27]

Review of police behaviour

A review found that "flawed decisions" were made by police when they failed to realise they were dealing with a murder scene.[16] The two officers first on the scene were found to have "breached the standards of professional behaviour".[16] The coroner condemned the "bungling" of the investigation.[28] [29]

Eliza Bibby

On 10 January 2023, ten years after Crown's murder, the body of 47-year-old Eliza Bibby was found at her bungalow in Wisbech.[30] She had been stabbed in the neck, similar to how Crown had been killed.[31] Cambridgeshire Constabulary made three arrests,[32] charging one man with murder,[33] [34] and launched a probe for possible links regarding the "striking similarities" between the two deaths.[35] [36] [37]

In October 2023, 47-year-old Jamie Boughen was found guilty of the murder of Eliza Bibby.[38] He was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 22 years.[39] [40]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Briggs . Stephen . 13 January 2023 . Una Crown: New appeal launched to catch killer who has evaded justice after stabbing Wisbech pensioner to death 10 years ago . 4 April 2023 . 4 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230404194009/https://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/news/crime/una-crown-new-appeal-launched-to-catch-killer-who-has-evaded-justice-after-stabbing-wisbech-pensioner-to-death-10-years-ago-3984439 . live.
  2. News: 12 February 2015 . Una Crown murder: Police thought death was 'accidental' . en-GB . BBC News . 4 April 2023 . 5 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230405095811/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-31436332 . live.
  3. News: 13 January 2023 . Una Crown: Mistakes leave Wisbech murder unsolved, says niece . en-GB . BBC News . 4 April 2023 . 5 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230405094306/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-64210477 . live.
  4. Web site: Hunt continues for killer of 86-year-old stabbed to death at home 10 years ago . 4 April 2023 . Eastern Daily Press . 13 January 2023 . en . 4 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230404194012/https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/23247169.wisbech-murder-appeal-find-una-crown-killer-10-years/ . live.
  5. Web site: A brutal killing, calamitous police mistakes and a murder trail gone cold . 4 April 2023 . Eastern Daily Press . 31 December 2022 . en . 4 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230404194009/https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/23191452.una-crown-murder-trail-killer-went-cold/ . live.
  6. News: 16 January 2013 . Una Crown, 86, murdered in 'brutal assault' in Wisbech . en-GB . BBC News . 4 April 2023 . 5 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230405095814/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-21045735 . live.
  7. Web site: Wisbech murder: Widow, 86, was stabbed in neck and set on fire . 4 April 2023 . Wisbech Standard . 17 January 2013 . en . 4 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230404194009/https://www.wisbechstandard.co.uk/news/22662173.wisbech-murder-widow-86-stabbed-neck-set-fire/ . live.
  8. News: 29 April 2013 . Una Crown murder: Crimewatch reconstruction appeal . en-GB . BBC News . 4 April 2023 . 5 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230405094302/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-22337214 . live.
  9. Web site: Killer of Wisbech pensioner Una Crown still at large four years after she died in a frenzied knife attack . 4 April 2023 . Cambs Times . 13 January 2017 . en . 4 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230404194013/https://www.cambstimes.co.uk/news/22860866.killer-wisbech-pensioner-una-crown-still-large-four-years-died-frenzied-knife-attack/ . live.
  10. News: 11 January 2014 . Una Crown murder: Fresh appeal in Wisbech one year on . en-GB . BBC News . 4 April 2023 . 5 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230405094304/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-25685606 . live.
  11. News: 23 January 2023 . Una Crown: Fresh leads in 2013 Wisbech widow murder . en-GB . BBC News . 4 April 2023 . 4 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230404215253/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-64345013 . live.
  12. Web site: Jones . Amy . 10 March 2023 . Everything we know about Eliza Bibby murder probe . 4 April 2023 . CambridgeshireLive . en . 4 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230404194009/https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/cambridge-news/everything-know-wisbech-eliza-bibby-26428273 . live.
  13. News: 12 January 2015 . Una Crown murder: Wisbech community asked for help . en-GB . BBC News . 4 April 2023 . 4 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230404215254/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-30781647 . live.
  14. Web site: 13 January 2023 . Re-appeal for information ten years on from murder of Wisbech pensioner . . 4 April 2023 . 4 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230404194011/https://www.cambs.police.uk/news/cambridgeshire/news/2023/january/re-appeal-for-information-ten-years-on-from-murder-of-wisbech-pensioner/ . live.
  15. Web site: Initial handling of Una Crown death 'unfortunate' and murder 'too readily dismissed' as coroner rules 86-year-old Wisbech widow was unlawfully killed . 4 April 2023 . Eastern Daily Press . 31 March 2015 . en . 4 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230404194017/https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/20995190.initial-handling-una-crown-death-unfortunate-murder-too-readily-dismissed-coroner-rules-86-year-old-wisbech-widow-unlawfully-killed/ . live.
  16. News: 11 February 2015 . Una Crown murder: Police made 'flawed decisions' . en-GB . BBC News . 4 April 2023 . 5 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230405101346/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-31411629 . live.
  17. Web site: Brown . Raymond . 22 July 2017 . Unsolved Cambridge murder could have links to witchcraft . 4 April 2023 . CambridgeshireLive . en . 5 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230405021459/https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/cambridge-news/7-unsolved-murders-cambridgeshire-baffled-13332260 . live.
  18. News: Service for murdered pensioner . en-GB . BBC News . 4 April 2023 . 4 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230404212931/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-21582515 . live.
  19. Web site: Loved ones say goodbye to murdered Wisbech widow Una Crown . 4 April 2023 . Eastern Daily Press . 25 February 2013 . en . 4 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230404194011/https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/21091945.loved-ones-say-goodbye-murdered-wisbech-widow-una-crown/ . live.
  20. News: 9 April 2013 . Man admits burgling Wisbech murder victim's home . en-GB . BBC News . 4 April 2023 . 5 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230405123137/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-22080087 . live.
  21. News: 26 June 2013 . Una Crown burglar jailed for raiding murder victim's Wisbech home . en-GB . BBC News . 4 April 2023 . 5 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230405101407/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-23062405 . live.
  22. News: 30 April 2013 . Una Crown murder: Crimewatch reconstruction knife appeal . en-GB . BBC News . 4 April 2023 . 5 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230405101419/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-22349616 . live.
  23. News: 16 October 2014 . Una Crown murder: Two arrested men released without charge . en-GB . BBC News . 4 April 2023 . 5 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230405101402/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-29641926 . live.
  24. Web site: Webb . Sam . Kendall . Ben . 31 March 2015 . Killer who knifed and torched elderly woman at large after murder signs missed . 4 April 2023 . mirror . en . 5 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230405182227/https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/killer-who-slit-elderly-womans-5434997 . live.
  25. News: 15 March 2023 . Una Crown: Reward of 20k offered in 2013 unsolved murder . en-GB . BBC News . 4 April 2023 . 5 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230405101412/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-64953182 . live.
  26. Web site: Cambridgeshire: Information reward for unsolved murder of pensioner Una Crown . crimestoppers-uk.org . Crimestoppers . 25 April 2023.
  27. Web site: Unsolved Cambridgeshire murder to feature on BBC Crimewatch . 25 April 2023 . The Hunts Post . 15 March 2023 . en.
  28. Web site: Police condemned for failing to spot stabbed and 'burnt to a crisp' pensioner was murdered . 4 April 2023 . . 31 March 2015 . 4 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230404212129/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/11506898/Police-condemned-for-failing-to-spot-stabbed-and-burnt-to-a-crisp-pensioner-was-murdered.html . live.
  29. News: 31 March 2015 . Una Crown: Coroner criticises Cambridgeshire Police over widow death . en-GB . BBC News . 4 April 2023 . 5 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230405101425/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-32131464 . live.
  30. Web site: Two arrested over 'murder' of woman, 47, found dead in her own bungalow in Wisbech . 4 April 2023 . en-US . 4 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230404194010/https://www.ash.org.au/uk-news/two-arrested-over-murder-of-woman-47-found-dead-in-her-own-bungalow-in-wisbech/ . live.
  31. Web site: Man linked to town's two murders is named . 4 April 2023 . Eastern Daily Press . 23 February 2023 . en . 4 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230404194009/https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/23340471.wisbech-inquest-held-man-linked-two-murders/ . live.
  32. Web site: Third person arrested in connection with Wisbech murder . 4 April 2023 . Cambs Times . 3 March 2023 . en . 4 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230404194009/https://www.cambstimes.co.uk/news/23360863.eliza-bibby-murder-police-arrest-third-person/ . live.
  33. News: 10 March 2023 . Wisbech: Murder charge over stab death of Eliza Bibby . en-GB . BBC News . 4 April 2023 . 5 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230405095816/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-64915699 . live.
  34. Web site: Two further arrests in connection to Eliza Bibby murder . 4 April 2023 . Cambs Times . 8 March 2023 . en . 4 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230404194015/https://www.cambstimes.co.uk/news/23372997.eliza-bibby-murder-two-arrests-made-police/ . live.
  35. Web site: Wisbech murder victim Eliza Bibby inquest opens . 4 April 2023 . Wisbech Standard . 2 February 2023 . en . 4 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230404194011/https://www.wisbechstandard.co.uk/news/23294528.wisbech-murder-victim-eliza-bibbys-inquest-opens/ . live.
  36. Web site: Man linked to town's two murders is named . 4 April 2023 . Wisbech Standard . 23 February 2023 . en . 4 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230404194011/https://www.wisbechstandard.co.uk/news/23340471.wisbech-inquest-held-man-linked-two-murders/ . live.
  37. Web site: Senior . Matthew . 13 January 2023 . 'Answer' to Cambs pensioner's unsolved murder 'lies in local community' . 4 April 2023 . CambridgeshireLive . en . 18 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230418022130/https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/local-news/detectives-appeal-information-murder-pensioner-25961484 . live.
  38. News: 2023-10-19 . Eliza Bibby: Man found guilty of Wisbech woman's murder . en-GB . BBC News . 2023-11-08.
  39. News: 2023-10-20 . Eliza Bibby: Man sentenced to life following Wisbech murder . en-GB . BBC News . 2023-11-08.
  40. Web site: Elworthy . John . 2023-10-20 . Wisbech man jailed for life for murdering Eliza Bibby in her home - CambsNews.co.uk . 2023-11-08 . en-GB.