A man who murdered an elderly church organist after a brutal sex attack more than 20 years ago was today jailed for life.
Steven Shepherd (47) broke into 82-year-old Vera Waring's home at Bushmills, Co Antrim, in December 1981 and subjected her to an horrific assault.
But it was only after a tiny speck of blood and a pubic hair found at the scene were re-examined using new DNA tests that the computer technician was caught.
Mr Justice Gillen, sitting at Antrim Crown Court, told Shepherd, of Castleton Park, Portstewart, Co Derry, that he would have to serve a minimum of 14 years behind bars.
He said: "This was a depraved and heartless attack on a vulnerable and elderly lady alone and defenceless within the sanctity of her own home".
Outside the court building - the case was heard at Ballymena Crown Court, sitting at Antrim - Shepherd's wife, Shirley, insisted he was innocent and vowed to clear his name.
Mr Justice Gillen rejected a defence lawyer's submission that the attack was a border-line case between murder and manslaughter.
But the judge said, despite serious reservations, he accepted Shepherd probably only intended to cause grievous bodily harm. He told Shepherd that although the convicted man had shown no regret, he had "not proven to be a danger to society".
PA