An Elderly Lady Cruelly Loses Her Life After An Innocent Mistake

In 2022, Margaret Barnes from Birmingham, UK, was a well-loved wife, mother and grandmother.

At 71, she found joy in life’s simple pleasures, and one of her greatest delights was the annual summer trip she took to visit friends in Barmouth — a small Welsh seaside town with a population of just over 2,500.

She had booked a room at the Wavecrest Guest House on the town’s main promenade. Nestled among a mixture of other guest houses and private homes, the B&B blended seamlessly into its surroundings.

With its appearance so similar to the neighbouring buildings, it was easy to see how someone unfamiliar with the area might mistake one for another.

When Margaret arrived at the B&B that warm summer’s day, CCTV captured her entering the property with a small black suitcase in hand. She walked with an unsteady hobble, her fragility evident. Age had certainly taken its toll, but her unsteadiness was likely made worse by the drinks she’d had earlier in several local bars.

Once inside the property, Margaret made her way up to what she believed was her room and remained there for the rest of the night, hoping to get some much-needed rest before beginning her holiday.

There was just one problem: this wasn’t Margaret’s B&B at all. The elderly woman had accidentally entered a private home only a few doors away from the guest house where she was meant to be staying…

The house was called Belmont House, and it belonged to 45-year-old bank worker David Redfern.

That night, David had been out drinking with his partner, Nicola. After six or seven pints and a gin and tonic, he returned home and fell asleep in front of the television, Antiques Roadshow playing in the background.

Around forty minutes after arriving home, David and Nicola headed upstairs to bed.

To their shock, they found Margaret semi-naked and lying in their bed. She was propped up against the pillows with a gin and tonic in one hand and a cigarette in the other. Her black travel case lay open on the floor, and her false teeth rested neatly on the bedside table.

David immediately called the police, calmly asking for officers to come and remove her. But things soon took a turn for the worse when an argument broke out — and David decided to take the law into his own hands.

Standing 6ft 1in and weighing 21 stone, David dragged the frail pensioner from the bed and down the stairs by her heels, before throwing her and her suitcase into the street as she could be heard saying, “I’m sorry.”

He then used excessive force, kicking and stamping on her, causing fatal injuries: three broken ribs, catastrophic damage to her liver, and extensive internal bleeding.

As Margaret began complaining of chest pains, David mocked her.

The much-loved wife, mother, and grandmother died on the pavement outside, calling out for her son and her husband of 56 years.

Neighbours of David’s heard the commotion and rushed to Margaret’s aid with attempts to resuscitate her, but with no success.

One of the witnesses called emergency services and the recording was later played in court, where he could be heard telling the operator:

When police arrived to the scene, David asked detectives:

David was arrested but denied any charge of murder or manslaughter, telling his partner Nicola, “I didn’t mean to kill her.” She replied, “You could have just escorted her out. It’s an old lady.”

Later that day, police visited the home of Margaret Barnes’ husband, Raymond, and delivered the heart-breaking news that his wife had died.

The couple had enjoyed holidays abroad, including trips to China and Cape Verde, and Raymond spoke of Margaret’s wide circle of female friends. In a statement read in court, he described how she had left school at 15, worked as a Cadbury’s packer for around 25 years, and enjoyed needlework and dancing.

Their daughter, Natalie Barnes, read a victim impact statement to the court, describing her mother as someone who “loved the little things in life.”

When the two-week trial began at Caernarfon Crown Court, David Redfern showed no remorse. He attempted to blame Margaret for his actions and forced her family to endure the trauma of a trial in which the events were explored in graphic detail.

David claimed he had been “petrified and scared” upon discovering Mrs. Barnes in his bed, insisting that he had merely “ushered” her outside with a “bear hug.” In police interviews, he alleged that Mrs. Barnes had been aggressive and had lunged at his partner.

The court heard that Margaret’s injuries were consistent with the blunt force trauma typically seen in a high-speed road accident. It also emerged that David had referred to her using vile language, calling her a “scumbag” and a “thieving c***.”

Prosecutor Michael Jones told the court:

After 20 hours of deliberation, the jury returned a verdict: David Redfern was found guilty of the murder of Margaret Barnes.

Handing him a mandatory life sentence for murder with a minimum 14 years before parole, Mr Justice Charles Bourne told the defendant:

Raymond Barnes has since said of his wife’s killer’s sentence: