How would you react if you found a stranger in your bed? Would your reaction be different if the stranger was a 71-year-old woman who stumbled into your home by accident?

Would you resort to violence, dragging her out by her ankles, and taunting her as she lay dying on the street?

This is exactly what David Redfern did when he found a confused grandmother in his bed.

Overreaction or justified defence? This is the heartbreaking story of Margaret Barnes.

A Fatal Mistake

Margaret Barnes, a 71-year-old loving grandmother from Birmingham, left school at the age of 15 and spent 25 years working as a packer at Cadbury’s. Now retired, she enjoyed needlework, dancing, and travelling with her husband to destinations like China and Cape Verde. Margaret was a devoted mother to her two children, Simon and Natalie, a beloved grandmother to four grandchildren, and a great-grandmother to one great-grandchild. She was cherished by her family and had a wide circle of friends.

In early July 2022, Margaret visited the charming seaside town of Barmouth in Gwynedd, North Wales, for a short holiday. Though she had been married to her husband Raymond for 56 years, she travelled alone to meet up with friends and acquaintances during her stay.

On the evening of Sunday, July 10th, 2022, Margaret had been out with friends, enjoying food and drinks. As the night wound down, she needed a place to stay, and a friend arranged for her to spend the night at Wavecrest B&B.

After an enjoyable evening out, Margaret walked down Marine Parade towards her B&B. Slightly intoxicated and disoriented, she mistakenly entered the home of David Redfern, a 46-year-old IT worker, around 10:10 PM. The Wavecrest B&B was just a few doors away, but Margaret, believing she was in the right place, walked into Redfern’s unlocked home with her small suitcase. Finding no one in the hallway to greet her, she went upstairs to Redfern’s bedroom and got into his bed.

A Tragic Confrontation

Redfern and his partner, Nicola Learoyd-Lewis, were watching television in another room at the time. Both had been drinking throughout the day, with Redfern consuming six or seven pints and a gin and tonic. Redfern, who was renovating his five-story property to convert it into a hotel, was under significant stress due to a medical condition that had led to the suspension of his driver’s license.

At around 10:45 pm, Redfern and Nicola went upstairs to bed. Finding their bedroom door locked, they used a spare key to enter and were shocked to discover Margaret lying in their bed, partially undressed, drinking a gin and tonic, and smoking. Her false teeth were on the bedside table, and her suitcase lay open on the floor.

Initially, Redfern calmly asked Margaret what she was doing in his home, but Margaret, who was still disoriented, became agitated. At 10:52 pm, Redfern called the police to have her removed. According to Redfern, Margaret reacted aggressively to the news that the police had been contacted and accused Nicola of stealing her handbag. Margaret then lunged at Nicola, sparking a confrontation.

What followed was a horrifying escalation. Redfern, a large man standing 6 feet 1 inches tall and weighing 22-stone was 25 years Margaret’s junior, and far stronger than the 71-year-old woman. Known for his volatile temper, he kicked or stamped on her in a fit of rage. She suffered extensive internal bleeding, three broken ribs, a fractured neck, and a catastrophic injury to her liver, which the pathologist described as “unsurvivable.” The severity of her injuries was compared to those typically seen in high-speed car accidents.

After the attack, Redfern dragged Margaret down the stairs by her ankles and threw her suitcase into the street. Margaret lay bruised and battered at the bottom of the stairs. In stark contrast to Redfern’s brutality, Nicola gently supported Margaret by her arm and escorted her outside. Redfern, however, showed no compassion. He sat outside and watched Margaret as she fumbled around in agony, trying to collect her possessions together.

Nicola stayed by Margaret’s side and desperately tried to help, as did some of the neighbours who came out when they heard the commotion. However, Redfern lacked any compassion. According to one of the neighbours, he taunted Margaret and called her a “lying cunt.” He laughed at her while also making offensive jokes of a sexual nature. The offensive remarks continued as Margaret’s condition deteriorated. She lay on the ground for two hours desperately calling out for her husband as she lay dying. When the neighbour asked Redfern to call an ambulance, he refused. When the neighbour called the ambulance themselves, Redfern was recorded saying, “I wouldn’t have called an ambulance. I would have dragged her down to the beach.”

Due to a nearby firearms incident, the police were unable to attend, and as Margaret’s condition worsened, the ambulance operator instructed those at the scene to perform CPR. Nicola could be heard begging Margaret, “Please don’t die. Please don’t die.” Though tragically, by the time the ambulance arrived, it was too late. Margaret Barnes was declared dead at around 2:00 am on July 11th, 2022. CCTV footage captured her saying, “I’m sorry,” before she died.

Legal Proceedings

David Redfern was arrested and charged with murder.

During the trial at Caernarfon Crown Court, the prosecution highlighted Redfern’s history of anger issues, arguing that his actions were excessive and disproportionate. They emphasised that his inability to control his rage had led to this senseless act of violence.

The defence, on the other hand, claimed that he had acted in self-defence, with Redfern denying the murder charge against him. He showed no remorse and instead attempted to blame Margaret for what had happened. In the process, he subjected her family to the trauma of a two-week trial where details of the event were explored in graphic detail.

The court heard harrowing details of the attack. Margaret’s family delivered emotional victim impact statements, describing the profound grief and loss they endured. Margaret’s daughter Natalie Barnes told the court:

“Every morning, we wake up struggling to cope with the fact that we will never see her again. My dad and my brother can’t come to terms with the fact that Mum called out for them as she was dying, but they were unable to help her. It has literally destroyed our family.” ⁽¹⁾

Ultimately, on March 29th, 2023, the jury found David Redfern guilty of murder. Justice Charles Bourne sentenced him to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 14 years, condemning his senseless violence and its devastating impact on Margaret’s family and the community.

Rhian Jones of the CPS said, “David Redfern’s reaction to the mistake was unjustified and completely out of proportion to the situation.

Sources

1. BBC. Barmouth: David Redfern jailed for murdering woman, 71.
2. BBC. Barmouth murder accused told partner he didn’t mean to kill.
3. BBC. Barmouth: Man accused of murdering woman denies boasting.
4. BBC. Tragic final moments of drunken grandmother entering property she wrongly believed was her B&B before being dragged into the street and beaten to death by 21-stone homeowner – as he is jailed for 14 years.
5. CPS. Man sentenced for murder of older woman who wandered in to his house.
6. Mail Online. Dying grandmother mouthed the word ‘lying’ as homeowner who battered her for mistaking his house for a seaside hotel told 999 he thought she was a thief, murder trial hears.
7. Mail Online. Homeowner, 46, accused of killing 71-year-old woman after finding her asleep in his bedroom describes dragging the grandmother out of his house but tells murder trial he then ‘collided’ with her ‘like a failed football challenge’.
8. North Wales Chronicle. Gwynedd man sentenced for murdering 71-year-old grandmother.
9. Sky News. David Redfern sentenced for the murder of Margaret Barnes.