Man who murdered woman after she mistook his home for B&B jailed for life

A man has been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 14 years for murdering a woman who mistook his home for a B&B.

David Redfern, 46, from Barmouth in north Wales, was sentenced in Caernarfon Crown Court on Friday.

Margaret Barnes, 71, from Birmingham died on Marine Parade, Barmouth, in the early hours of 11 July 2022.

The judge described Redfern’s behaviour towards Ms Barnes as “aggressive and offensive”, adding that it was after he had called the police that things went “terribly wrong”.

After finding Ms Barnes in his bed – holding a drink and surrounded by what appeared to be her belongings – the judge said that Redfern’s actions of asking her what she was doing in his home, were “entirely appropriate”.

But the “trigger” for what happened next was Ms Barnes accusing Redfern’s partner, Nicola Learoyd-Lewis, of stealing her handbag and lunging towards her, after the phone call to police had been made.

The jury during Redfern’s trial heard that he had dragged Ms Barnes down the stairs and was accused of kicking or stamping on her, inflicting “un-survivable” liver injuries on her, which the pathologist described as being similar to those seen in car crash victims.

During the sentencing, the judge added that when outside the property, Redfern watched Ms Barnes in an “aggressive” or “threatening” attitude as she tried to gather her belongings.

In comparison, his partner, Ms Learoyd-Lewis, acted “gently” and “carefully”, guiding Ms Barnes, who was unsteady on her feet, outside of the property.

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Redfern’s sentence was slightly lowered from the maximum of 15 years to 14 years, due to the “sudden and bizarre circumstances” in which the offence was committed, and the “lack of intention to kill”.

He previously admitted to having been drinking on the evening of 10 July 2022 – “about six or seven pints in total with, I believe, a gin and tonic”.

He also acknowledged in his evidence that some of the comments he made towards Ms Barnes “were appalling”, adding that he thought she was “very drunk” at the time.

In a statement released after the jury’s verdict on Wednesday, Ms Barnes’s family described her as “a much-loved wife, mother and grandmother”.