Barmouth: David Redfern jailed for 14 years for bed mix-up murder

A antheral who murdered a 71-year-old pistillate who mistook his location for a B&B and got into his furniture has been jailed for 14 years.

Margaret Barnes, from Birmingham, died aft being attacked successful July 2022 portion she was visiting Barmouth, Gwynedd.

David Redfern, 46, was fixed a beingness condemnation astatine Caernarfon Crown Court connected Friday.

Margaret Barnes' daughter, Natalie Barnes, told the tribunal the execution had "completely destroyed our household life".

Redfern recovered Mrs Barnes dormant successful his furniture and dragged her downstairs earlier kicking and stamping her to death.

Mrs Barnes had been retired drinking with friends and had been readying to enactment astatine a B&B connected Marine Parade, wherever Redfern lived.

She mistakenly went into Redfern's location and went consecutive to his chamber and fell asleep.

Prosecutor Michael Jones said this was a "mistake that yet outgo her her life".

Before Redfern was sentenced, Natalie Barnes told the court: "Every morning, we aftermath up, struggling to header with the information that we volition ne'er spot her again.

"My dada and my member can't travel to presumption with the information that mum called retired for them arsenic she was dying, but they were incapable to assistance her.

"It has virtually destroyed our family. We nary longer speech astir thing different than mum's death.

"It is nary longer enjoyable to spot each other. Dad has wholly withdrawn from household life.

"Mum didn't request to die. We don't recognize wherefore she had to."

Mrs Barnes' granddaughter, Robyn Barnes, fought backmost tears arsenic she work a unfortunate interaction connection to the court.

"My grandma was taken from america successful a mode we ne'er imagined," she said.

"We conflict to deliberation however she suffered successful the past fewer moments of her life.

"There's an bare spot astatine our array astatine Christmas and for birthdays.

"She volition ne'er beryllium determination for the milestones successful my life. She volition ne'er spot maine get married. She volition ne'er beryllium capable to conscionable my children.

"We miss her each day. We volition miss her forever. We are wholly heartbroken."

Rhian Jones, speaking connected behalf of the CPS, said: "David Redfern's absorption to the mistake was unjustified and wholly retired of proportionality to the situation.

"The beardown grounds presented by the CPS has resulted successful this conviction, and justness for Margaret Barnes.

"Her nonaccomplishment volition proceed to beryllium felt by her household and friends, who person our deepest sympathy, but we anticipation the decision of the lawsuit volition assistance them successful their grief."