A murder trial has heard that David Redfern, a homeowner with a history of anger issues, attacked Margaret Barnes, a 71-year-old woman who had mistakenly entered his house in Barmouth, North Wales, thinking it was her seaside hotel.
Barnes had mistakenly gone to Redfern’s large seafront home called Belmont House, several doors down from her intended destination.
The court was told that after discovering Barnes asleep in his bed, Redfern dragged her downstairs by her feet and threw her suitcase onto the street while calling her a ‘thieving c***’.
Prosecutors allege that Redfern then attacked Barnes, causing traumatic injuries to her liver and breaking several ribs, which ultimately led to her death. A post-mortem examination found that Barnes had a traumatic liver injury and was bleeding extensively internally.
Redfern has denied both the murder and manslaughter charges against him. The trial is expected to last approximately three weeks.
Prosecutor Michael Jones KC said that Barnes had bought a bottle of gin after going for an evening walk and was believed to have ‘simply mistook’ Redfern’s five-storey home for her hotel as she was visiting the seaside resort.
She had checked into the Wavecrest B&B several doors down from Belmont House. She had been drinking before the incident and was discovered by Redfern in an upstairs bedroom, where she had taken out her false teeth and put them on a bedside table before pouring a gin into a glass while holding a bottle of tonic.
The court heard that Redfern had ‘self-confessed anger issues’ and that his reaction to finding Barnes in his bed was ‘out of all proportion’. Jones said that Redfern intentionally stamped on or kicked Barnes while dragging her downstairs by her ankles, which caused her injuries.
Redfern allegedly mocked Barnes as she began complaining of chest pains before she fell unconscious and went into cardiac arrest. Neighbours attempted to resuscitate her, but Barnes died at the scene from her injuries.
Barnes’ family paid tribute to her in a statement, saying that she was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and sister who always had a smile on her face and was willing to help anyone, especially her family whom she cherished.
»Man who killed 71yr old grandmother who mistook his house for a hotel said he has anger issues«
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