Vic: Elderly killer faces death in jail

AAP General News (Australia)
02-24-2004
Vic: Elderly killer faces death in jail

MELBOURNE, Feb 24 AAP - A 72-year-old, reclusive "odd-man out" was destined to die
in jail for murdering a popular, outgoing woman neighbour to whom he took a dislike, Victoria's
Supreme Court was told today.

Peter John Howard told police after killing his near-neighbour of 20 years, 59-year-old
Olive Maas, that he always found her "aggressively friendly".

Today's pre-sentencing hearing heard that Howard maintained his innocence despite being
convicted of murder in November last year.

The body of the churchgoing former health care worker was found …