The unrepentant killer of a retired librarian Attracta Harron could be facing at least 30 years in jail, a court heard today.
Farm labourer Trevor Hamilton (23) who battered the woman after she disappeared on her way home from church and then buried her naked body at a riverbank near his home, had shown no remorse for what he did, it was claimed.
At the time he murdered Ms Harron (65) he had been out on parole after raping a woman in his home village of Sion Mills, Co Tyrone.
Hamilton was convicted in April, and is expected to be jailed on Friday.
The trial judge, Mr Justice McLaughlin, has already warned him that the sentence could be the longest ever imposed by the courts in Northern Ireland and that he might never be freed again.
Crown lawyer Terence Mooney told a pre-sentence hearing today that the minimum sentence should be considerably higher than the guidelines and there were no mitigating features in the case.
He said: "There is clearly no remorse. The pattern of behaviour clearly suggests a sexual motive for the abduction of Mrs Harron.
"It is clear that Mr Hamilton, despite assistance being offered to him, has learned nothing from previous offending."
Mr Mooney said the judge could impose a minimum tariff of 30 years, after which the sentence would be reviewed.
Mrs Harron, a Catholic and mother of five, from Strabane, Co Tyrone was on her way home from Mass across the border in Lifford, Co Donegal, in December 2003 when she vanished.
Four months later her body was discovered in a makeshift grave close to the home of Hamilton's parents after search dogs were brought in from south Yorkshire police.
Police believe she was attacked with either an axe or a hatchet. Her body was so badly decomposed, officers were unable to determine if Mrs Harron had been sexually assaulted.
Hamilton had been released from prison just months before he abducted Ms Harron. He had been out on parole after raping a woman, aged 29, in a caravan at his home.
Dungannon Crown Court heard today that Hamilton had disassociated himself from responsibility for the murder.
A medical report read out in court stated: "Of grave concern is Mr Hamilton's continued failure to accept responsibility for his behaviour, which has facilitated his ability to disassociate himself from his past convictions."
Another expert added: "I would consider Mr Hamilton to present a grave ongoing danger to the safety of women."