The heartbroken family of a gran who was beaten to death after mistaking a thug’s home for a B&B have said their lives are “destroyed”.
Grandmother Margaret Barnes, 71, had visited from her home in Barmouth, Wales Birmingham when she mistook the home of 21-stone felon David Redfern, 46, for her accommodation, which was a few doors down, Caernarfon heard Crown Court.
Redfern denied murdering Mrs Barnes on July 11 last year, but was sentenced to 14 years in prison by a jury earlier this week.
The victim’s daughter, Natalie Barnes, read a victim impact statement to the court describing her mother as someone who “loved the little things in life.”
She said, “As a family, we will never get over what happened. My mother didn’t have to die and we don’t understand why she had to.’
The final moments before Margaret Barnes, 71, was killed by David Redfern, 46, have been revealed, showing the grandmother dragging her small suitcase up the driveway as she puts her black handbag on a table outside the door
David Redfern, 46, (left) dragged 71-year-old Margaret Barnes down by her feet after finding her asleep in a bed at his seaside home in Barmouth, North Wales, on July 11 last year
“When my mother called my father and brother, they couldn’t save her.
In tribute to Mrs Barnes, her granddaughter Robyn Barnes said her death had left her ‘completely heartbroken’.
Meanwhile, her widower Raymond Barnes said in a statement read in court that his wife left school at the age of 15 and had been a Cadbury’s packer for some 25 years and loved needlework and dancing.
The couple had been on holiday abroad, including in China and Cape Verde, and she had a large group of friends.
Raymond said that on July 11 last year, police knocked on his door to inform him that she had died.
He said: ‘We were in total shock. Our lives will never be the same again.’
But her husband Raymond said in a statement: “She would never be aggressive.” Prior to her death, she sometimes seemed confused, he added.
Her daughter Natalie Barnes said the murder “destroyed our family.”
Mrs. Barnes accidentally ended up in Belmont House, Redfern’s seaside property in Barmouth
But the 71-year-old had booked to stay at the Wavecrest B&B on Marine Parade – a few doors down from the Redfern property
The retiree’s family added: ‘Margaret, who was a much loved wife, mother and grandmother, has now been gone for eight months. As a family, it was the hardest time of our lives. It has been especially hard for Margaret’s husband, who had been her partner for 56 years.
“We now have a kind of closure of what happened. However, no punishment will ever fill the void Margaret left.”
Redfern, 46, had had six or seven pints and a gin and tonic on a night out with his partner before coming home and falling asleep watching Antiques Roadshow.
But when the couple decided to go to bed around 11pm, they found half-naked Mrs. Barnes lying in their bed, drinking and smoking, with a black suitcase open on the floor.
An argument broke out and Mrs. Barnes was dragged down the stairs by her heels and thrown out of the house. Redfern also kicked or stomped the frail pensioner, breaking three of her ribs and causing a catastrophic and insurmountable injury to her liver.
The “dearly loved” wife, mother and grandmother died outside on the sidewalk, the court heard.
Judge Charles Bourne gave Redfern a mandatory life sentence for murder with a minimum of 14 years before parole, telling the defendant, “I understand that you must have been very shocked to find a stranger in your house, your bedroom.”
“But your reaction exceeds anything a reasonable person can imagine.
‘You are a big and strong man, then 45 years old.
“She was short and frail, at least 25 years older than you, clearly under the influence of alcohol and unsteady on her feet.
“I can understand why you escorted her out of your house, although someone else would have responded to this situation by trying to help her.
“But the assault, a kick or punch of sufficient force to cause fatal injury, was a terrible thing to do, for a defenseless elderly person.”
Daughter Natalie Barnes read a victim impact statement to the court describing her mother as someone who “loved the little things in life.”
Prior to the incident, Redfern had drunk six or seven pints and a gin and tonic on a night out with his partner
David Redfern (pictured) was furious when he saw Margaret Barnes, 71, stripped down, unpacked and climbed into bed at his home in Barmouth, North Wales
She said, “When my mother called my father and brother, they could not save her.
“As a family, we will never get over what happened. My mother didn’t have to die and we don’t understand why she had to.’
In tribute to Mrs Barnes, her granddaughter Robyn Barnes said her death had left her ‘completely heartbroken’.
Meanwhile, her widower Raymond Barnes said in a statement read in court that his wife left school at the age of 15 and had been a Cadbury’s packer for some 25 years and loved needlework and dancing.
The couple had been on holiday abroad, including in China and Cape Verde, and she had a large group of friends.
Raymond said that on July 11 last year, police knocked on his door to inform him that she had died. “We were in total shock,” he said. “Our lives will never be the same again.”
The court heard Ms Barnes ‘just mistook’ Redfern’s large seaside home for her hotel after traveling over 100 miles to a seaside town for a £95-a-night break.
Prosecutor Michael Jones said: “It was a mistake that ended up costing her her life.
“The reason Mrs. Barnes died is that she had the misfortune of running into a man who was an angry bully.”
Earlier the court heard that arrangements had been made with a local B&B for Ms Barnes to remain in Barmouth and that she had been drinking with friends and was unsteady on her feet.
When Redfern and his partner went upstairs to go to bed, Redfern first calmly called the police and asked officers to come get her. But then things went ‘terribly wrong’ after a fight broke out, the court heard
Mrs. Barnes was booked into the Wavecrest B&B (pictured) which was a few doors down on Marine Parade
Mistaking her accommodation for Redfern’s house, she went inside and went to bed around 10:10 p.m. on July 10 last year.
When Redfern and his partner went to bed about 40 minutes later, Redfern first calmly called the police and asked officers to come get her.
But then things went ‘terribly wrong’ after a fight broke out, the court heard.
Redfern, a six-foot-tall man who weighed 21 pounds, dragged the unwelcome visitor down by her heels and flung her suitcase into the street.
He also kicked or stomped Mrs. Barnes, causing the fatal injury.
Redfern told the jury that he found Mrs Barnes upright in their bed drinking gin and tonic with her dentures on the bedside table.
Out of court, Detective Mark Pierce of North Wales Police said: “During a two-week trial, Redfern showed no remorse, tried to blame Margaret for his actions and subjected her family to the trauma of a two-week trial in which details of the event were explored in graphical detail.
“David Redfern is a cowardly, vicious bully and will now spend at least 14 years behind bars where he can reflect on what he has done.”
Mrs Barnes’ family added: ‘As a family it was 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 kind of closure to what happened, but no punishment will ever fill the void Margaret left.”