Man jailed for almost 20 years for random killing of pensioner in his own home

Jay Lee Gallier, of Dudley, was found guilty of murdering Barry Johnson, 67, who was found dead in his flat in The Promenade, in Brierley Hill on August 25, 2021 after a jury trial held last month.

Mr Johnson was discovered by a relative after failing to answer his telephone. He was beaten in a bloody attack with multiple head, face and neck injuries and left for dead by Gallier.

Sentencing the 33-year-old drug addict, at Wolverhampton Crown court on Thursday morning Judge Michael Chambers KC said it had been a worrying case due to the circumstances. And he said he considered Gallier, who has a history of violence, as "dangerous".

"Having heard the evidence I am satisfied that the defendant did not know the deceased Barry Johnson before this incident. His indication that they met before and he had arranged to to meet a drug dealer was untrue.

"Arising from that, it seems it was a random killing that in itself is a worrying and a serious matter," Judge Chambers said.

The judge said Gallier's claim that Mr Johnson was involved with cannabis was a "slur"on the dead man's character and that in his judgement the murder was committed for gain. He told the court that the defendant he went to the flat where he knew elderly people lived, to get money.

He said the defendant struck the victim when he realised there was no money forthcoming.

"Having said that there is no evidence and we only have suspicion about what the motive was. There is no evidence that he took money and left with it.

"There are a number of serious aggravating factors in this case, but the highest we can put it is at suspicion."

Gallier was convicted after the jury heard his fingerprints were found inside the flat and Mr Johnson’s blood was found on a pair of jeans at his address, in Salop Street, Dudley.

Judge Chambers told the defendant that Mr Johnson was clearly vulnerable and at 5ft 2in would have been no match for him. He said there was no victim statement from his the Johnson family, but it was clear from previous statements that he had been "respected and loved".

"They must have suffered a great loss."

He said the defendant had loitered at the entrance to the block of flats and entered as someone was leaving. He then walked into the a lobby and picked up a pair of slippers and later reappeared in the lift without the item about an hour later.

Prosecuting barrister Mr Kevin Hegarty KC said Gallier had used his foot as a weapon against Mr Johnson and he revealed that the defendant had a string of previous convictions dating to 2009 when he served 42 months youth detention for battery.

He was jailed for 21 months in December 2018 for assault occasioning actual bodily harm, jailed for six months in January 2019 for assault, jailed for three months in January 2020 for threatening behaviour, and jailed for three months in November 2020 for assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

For murder Gallier, who denied being responsible for the crime, was jailed for a minimum term of 19 years and 123 days. He must serve the term before being considered for parole.