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Daughter saw her mother's killer on Ring doorbell camera minutes before he took the 69-year-old gran's life in bungled burglary By ROBERT FOLKER Published: 08:01 EDT, 30 April 2025 | Updated: 08:08 EDT, 30 April 2025 e-mail A daughter saw her mother's murderer on a doorbell camera minutes before he killed her in a bungled burglary, a court heard. Killer Dean Mears, 34, was seen on camera by the daughter of Catherine Flynn, a 69-year-old grandmother, showing him ringing the bell late at night. Pensioner Catherine was dragged from her bed to die from 'severe injuries' to her face and brain as he stamped on her head at least 15 times.
Daughter Natasha Flynn had access to her house Ring doorbell cam and received notification from the camera at 22.27pm on October 24 last year. A court heard Natasha was helpless as her mother was pleading 'please don't' as she begged not to be hurt before she heard the thuds of him stamping on her head.
The grandmother, who used a walking frame, suffered massive injuries before dying the next day in hospital. Mears admits manslaughter but denies murder - saying he had no 'intention to kill or cause any serious bodily injury to her.' A pathologist who carried out a post-mortem examination likened the injuries Ms Flynn suffered to those seen in motor vehicle collisions.
Pensioner Catherine Flynn, 69, was dragged from her bed to die from 'severe injuries' to her face and brain as he stamped on her head at least 15 times A court heard Natasha Flynn was helpless as her mother (pictured) was pleading 'please don't' as she begged not to be hurt before They were caused by 'repeated, severe blunt force trauma that shattered all her facial bones', he added. 'He inflicted such severe damage to the face of Mrs Flynn that she had no chance of surviving this vicious, unprovoked assault.' Mears spent just two minutes inside her home in the seaside town of Rhyl, North Wales, after mistakingly believing it was empty.
Catherine's family described her as a 'wonderful' woman who would 'help anyone if she could'. They described her as a 'ray of sunshine' known to all as Queenie. Prosecutor Andrew Jones told how Catherine lived alone suffering serious health and mobility issues, and used a stairlift.
Mr Jones said: '[Natasha] heard glass shattering which was the defendant breaking the downstairs window. 'Ms Flynn watched as he remained inside her mother's house for under two minutes before jumping out of the window.' The prosecutor added that the defendant had left Catherine 'dying on the floor of her own bedroom'.
The jury at Caernarfon Crown Court was shown the Ring doorbell footage in which she is heard begging not to be hurt. Mears is heard repeatedly asking: 'Where are the keys?'. There are also 15 thuds which the prosecution said are the sounds of Ms Flynn being attacked.
The jury was told Mears had taken ketamine, cannabis and cocaine. He was arrested just after 3am on October 25 at his grandmother's house in West Kimnel Bay. Defence barrister Richard Pratt said there would be 'little challenge to the evidence' the jury would hear.
He said Mears had killed Catherine 'brutally' but said they would endeavour to prove that the defence of diminished responsibility applies. Catherine's family described her as a 'wonderful' woman who would 'help anyone if she could' Evidence of the defendant's mental condition would be part of the defence case, he added. The court heard the prosecution say Mears knew 'exactly what he was doing and what he had done', adding that he set about trying to 'cover his tracks' by disposing of clothing that he knew was covered in Ms Flynn's blood.
Mr Jones said Mears told people he was close to that he had done 'something very bad' and that he had 'hurt someone'. A family statement said: 'Catherine was a wonderful mum, nan, great nan, auntie, and sister, and also a second mother to many and a great friend. 'She loved her family more than anything, she was a fantastic cook and was always wanting to feed anyone in her company.
'Her pride and joy (after her family) was her love for her garden, she would sit for hours just watching the birds and the bees come in and out of her little wonderland, with every flower imaginable. 'We often wondered how her garden was always so beautiful - now we know, it's because she was the ray of sunshine.' They said Catherine - who was born in Liverpool - was a 'rock' and best friend to her three children and said 'her house was so welcoming and warm.
She was beautiful, inside, and out.' It added: 'She would do anything for anyone, she would give anyone her last penny and her door was always open for a nice cuppa and a chat. And this went both ways, anyone who knew her would do anything for her too, as she was respected by all.
'Her passing has left a huge hole in everyone's hearts, things will never be the same without our Queenie. We've not only lost our mum and nan, we've lost our best friend, our safe place, our security, our backbone of the family and our daily ray of sunshine.' 'I hope the angels know what they have, I bet it's so nice up in heaven since you arrived.
' Mears, of Kinmel Bay, has admitted manslaughter, but denies murder on the grounds of diminished responsibility. The trial, which is expected to last just over two weeks, continues. Share or comment on this article: Daughter saw her mother's killer on Ring doorbell camera minutes before he took the 69-year-old gran's life in bungled burglary e-mail Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.
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