Pensioner who mistook house by the sea for her B&B ‘fatally dragged away by owner’

A pensioner who walked into a seaside home and climbed into bed thinking it was her B&B was discovered by the owner, dragged down by her ankles and stomped on, a murder trial has learned.

Margaret Barnes, 71, suffered similar injuries as expected in a ‘high speed collision’ and died shortly afterwards on July 11 last year, Caernarfon Crown Court was informed.

David Redfern, who allegedly discovered the half-naked intoxicated pensioner, denies killing her outside his home in Barmouth, North Wales.

A jury heard that 46-year-old Redfern, who is 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs 55 pounds, has “self-confessed” anger management issues.

The court heard that Mrs Barnes, from Birmingham, was visiting friends in Barmouth on July 10 last summer when she went to a Spar store.

Margaret Barnes, 71, died after injuries sustained ‘consistent with high speed collision’

There she bought some gin and about 10 p.m. walked to the Wavecrest B&B – pulling her small wheeled suitcase and carrying her handbag.

But she ended up in Belmont House, a large five-story mansion that was on the same side of the street just a few doors down from the Wavecrest, the court heard. Belmont House was renovated by Redfern and his partner Nicola Learoyd-Lewis.

Prosecutor Michael Jones KC said, “Mrs. Barnes had been drinking and, as if she thought this was the Wavecrest, she went in and went to bed.

“She mistook the suspect’s address for the B&B, but it was a mistake that ultimately cost her her life.”

She went to an upstairs bedroom, took out her dentures and placed them on a bedside table and poured a gin into a glass while holding a bottle of tonic, the court heard.

The prosecution alleges that when Redfern and Ms Leroyd-Lewis entered, they found the ‘vulnerable’ pensioner there ‘half-naked on the edge of the bed’ with her belongings in a mess on the floor.

The court heard that Redfern called Mrs Barnes a “thieving son of a bitch” and dragged the seven-and-a-half stone woman down by her ankles and stomped on her outside.

The jury was told that Redfern was heard saying, “It probably didn’t do her any good that I dragged her down the stairs by her ankles.”

He later told police she had been aggressive towards him, the court heard.

Her wheeled suitcase had been flung into the street and Redfern allegedly mocked the injured woman as she tried to gather her belongings into her suitcase while on her hands and knees.

Margaret Barnes was booked to stay at the Wavecrest B&B

However, the court heard that she had walked into Belmont House in a confusion

Once inside, she took herself to a room and fell asleep (Pictured: a room in Belmont House)

The court heard that Margaret Barnes had been dragged down the steps of the property. Pictured: at Belmont House

But he told officers he didn’t know who threw the briefcase, jurors heard.

Emergency services were called and a neighbor was given CPR, but she developed difficulty breathing and succumbed to her injuries.

The prosecution said it was “obviously surprising” for Redfern to find an elderly frail woman in one of his beds, but “what followed was horrific.”

Mr Jones said: ‘Unexpected as her presence was, Ms Barnes suffered ‘catastrophic, fatal and brutal injuries at the hands of the defendant’ who is a bully.

Home Office pathologist Dr Brian Rodgers found that Ms Barnes died of severe blunt force trauma. There were rib fractures and a broken neck, according to the prosecution.

The prosecution said a kick or stomp outside the Belmont House caused a ruptured liver and a liter of blood in her abdomen.

Mr Jones said the defendant had used ‘cruel and deliberate force and language’ and by acting out of anger or needlessly was ‘guilty of her murder’.

He claims Mrs Barnes had ‘jumped out’ at his girlfriend in the bedroom and that he intervened because he thought his girlfriend was ‘in danger’, by ‘hugging’ Mrs Barnes off the premises.

The three week trial will be heard by judge Mr Justice Bourne KC. Redfern denies murder and manslaughter. The process continues.