A Belfast man convicted of murdering his elderly neighbour 20 years ago will be sentenced today.
William James Stevenson (44) was found guilty of beating and choking 66-year-old Elizabeth Smyth and sexually abusing her in October 1988 at her home in the Finaghy area.
Stevenson, from Coast Road, Ballygally, had lived in a flat opposite the pensioner in Moveen House on Benmore Drive in Finaghy.
During a two-week trial it emerged Stevenson was arrested four days after her body was discovered, but was released without charge, only to be arrested again in July last year.
The development came after the murder investigation was re-opened by the Police Service of Northern Ireland's Serious Crime Review Team.
The police team re-examined forensic evidence from the first investigation and on this occasion officers linked Stevenson to the murder.
In the trial, which began in October, a Belfast Crown Court jury took an hour and 20 minutes to reach their unanimous guilty decision.
PA