Thug homeowner faces life in jail for murdering grandmother after dragging her into the street and beating her to death when she mistook his house for a seaside B&B
- David Redfern, 46, dragged 71-year-old Margaret Barnes downstairs by her feet
- The 21-stone homeowner was furious when he found confused retiree in his bed
A drunk homeowner is facing life in prison for the murder of a frail grandmother after he beat and dragged her into the street when she mistook his house for a seaside B&B.
David Redfern, 46, dragged 71-year-old Margaret Barnes downstairs by her feet after he found her asleep in a bed at his seafront home in Barmouth, North Wales, on July 11 last year.
The 21-stone homeowner was furious when he discovered Mrs Barnes had undressed, unpacked and climbed into bed, calling her a ‘thieving c**t’ and ‘scumbag’ before he ‘stamped’ on her and threw her onto the street.
Mrs Barnes, who had been intending to stay at the Wavecrest B&B just a few doors down from the property, died in the street from catastrophic injuries reminiscent of a ‘high-speed car crash’ .
Redfern denied murder, but was today found guilty following a three-week trial at Caernarfon Crown Court.
David Redfern, 46, dragged 71-year-old Margaret Barnes downstairs by her feet after he found her asleep in a bed at his seafront home in Barmouth, North Wales, on July 11 last year
Mrs Barnes, who had been intending to stay at the Wavecrest B’n’B just a few doors down from the property, died in the street from catastrophic injuries
Ms Barnes ended up mistakenly entering Belmont House, Redfern’s seaside property in Barmouth
Adjourning sentencing until Friday, Mr Justice Bourne told him: ‘You are remanded in custody. You have been advised what the sentencing decision will be.’
Speaking after his conviction, Mrs Barnes’ family said: ‘Margaret, who was a much-loved wife, mother and grandmother has now been gone for eight months.
READ MORE: Homeowner who dragged grandmother onto street after she mistook house for B&B tells murder trial he’s ‘truly sorry’
‘As a family it has been the hardest time of our lives. It has been especially difficult for Margaret’s husband who had been her partner for 56 years.
‘We now have some sort of closure on what has happened, however, no length of sentence will ever fill the void that Margaret has left behind.
‘As a family we would like to thank the police for their hard work in putting the case together.’
The court heard how seven-and-a-half stone Mrs Barnes ‘simply mistook’ his large five-storey seaside home for her hotel after travelling more than 100 miles from Birmingham to the seaside resort for a £95-a-night break.
The retired factory worker had purchased bought a bottle of gin on a seaside evening stroll before seeking out her B’nB.
But she mistook Redfern’s large seafront home called Belmont House for her intended hotel – and tipsily went into the wrong home, straight up to bed, unpacked and poured a gin nightcap.
Michael Jones, prosecuting, said: ‘It was a mistake that ultimately cost her her life. The reason Mrs Barnes died is she had the misfortune of coming across a man who was an angry bully.’
Meanwhile, IT worker Redfern had ‘self-confessed anger issues’ – and his reaction to finding her was ‘out of all proportion’.
Mr Jones said: ‘It would have been unexpected to find the elderly woman asleep in their bed. He pulled her down the stairs by the ankles. He intentionally stamped on her or kicked her.’
Mrs Barnes suffered said it led to ‘catastrophic’ injuries to her liver, and broke a number of ribs. He compared her injuries to a high-speed car crash.
She managed to get outside, where her suitcase had been thrown by Redfern, who then ‘mocked her as she began complaining of chest pains’. His comments were caught on a Hive security camera.
Mrs Barnes subsequently fell unconscious and went into cardiac arrest as neighbours tried to resuscitate her, but she died at the scene from ‘traumatic injuries’.
Redfern (pictured) who dragged Mrs Barnes downstairs by her feet before attacking her in a fury
The 71-year-old had booked to stay in the Wavecrest B&B on Marine Parade
Redfern, of Barmouth, denied the murder of Mrs Barnes but was today convicted and told he faces a life sentence
A post-mortem examination found she had a traumatic liver injury, and was bleeding extensively internally.
Redfern had earlier drunk six or seven pints and a gin and tonic during a night out with his partner, before returning home and falling asleep while watching Antiques Roadshow.
But when they headed to bed at around 11pm, they found their bedroom door locked. He found the spare key and unlocked it to see semi-naked Mrs Barnes in their bed.
Redfern said in his evidence: ‘There was a lady lying in our bed, drinking and smoking. There was a black travel case open on the floor, clothes hanging up and strewn around the room.’
The court heard his shocked partner Nicola Learoyd-Lewis saw Mrs Barnes and said: ‘Who the hell are you? What are you doing in our bedroom?’
Mrs Barnes is said to have replied: ‘This is my room and I’m meant to be here.’
Redfern accepted he physically forced her out and made ‘appalling’ comments caught on a Hive camera recording at his front door.
He said: ‘I thought Mrs Barnes was very drunk, I am truly sorry for the comments I made. I lost my temper towards her that evening, and said some appalling things.’
Caernarfon Crown Court heard he was recorded saying: ‘All I have done is eject her from my house.’
In the recording, he added: ‘There’s nothing nothing wrong with her and all she is is p***ed.’
The large house had formerly been a hotel before being bought for £449,000 to be renovated by Redfern and his partner, who moved from the Essex area.
Redfern will be sentenced on Friday and has been warned he is facing a life sentence.
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