A GRAN mouthed the word “lying” after she was beaten to death by a homeowner whose house she had mistakenly wandered into, a court heard.
David Redfern, 46, allegedly called Margaret Barnes, 71, a “thieving c***” after discovering her undressed in his bedroom with her false teeth in a glass next to the bed.
Caernarfon Crown Court was told Margaret had mistaken his five-storey home for the Wavecrest B’n’B several doors away.
Redfern dragged the “frail” pensioner outside by her feet in Barmouth, North Wales, and stamped on or kicked her, it was said.
Margaret suffered “catastrophic” injuries to her liver that were likened to those seen in a high-speed car crash.
Jurors heard how stricken Margaret had mouthed the word “lying” as she took her final breaths.
It came after Redfern told police “all I have done is eject her from my house” in a recorded call, it was said.
The bank worker denied hearing Margaret’s final word as he explained to officers he had mistaken her for a thief.
He is also accused of “mocking” the gran as she lay dying on the ground complaining of chest pains.
In a police interview, Redfern said in a prepared statement: “I did not intend to cause the victim harm. I deny kicking the victim.
“I was not aware of the gravity of the victim’s injuries until her symptoms became acute.”
He said he had been “petrified and scared” and claimed he “ushered” her outside with a “bear hug”, the court was told.
Redfern’s large property, called Belmont House, had been a hotel before he renovated it with his partner.
In July last year, Margaret had been seen drinking in several pubs in Barmouth, where she had gone to visit friends.
She then bought a bottle of gin before she tipsily entered Redfern’s home and fell asleep, it was said.
The homeowner arrived back with his partner to find the gran “semi-naked on the side of the bed” with her belongings strewn across the floor in a mess.
Prosecutor Michael Jones KC said: “It was a mistake which ultimately cost her her life.”
Jurors were told Redfern pulled Margaret down the stairs by her ankles and chucked her suitcase in the street.
He then subjected her to an “utterly gratuitous” and “totally unjustified” attack, it was said.
Tragically Margaret, from Birmingham, could not be saved and died at the scene from “traumatic injuries”.
The court heard how Redfern had “self-confessed anger issues” and his reaction was “out of all proportion”.
Redfern denies both murder or manslaughter.
The trial continues.
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