Danny Joseph Khochaiche was like "a hunter seeking his prey" when he attacked an 84-year-old man on his Sydney doorstep and snatched his keys and wallet, a court has heard.
Thomas Rowan died of a heart attack less than a week after Khochaiche mugged him in the inner-city suburb of Surry Hills in August 1994, striking him in the back of the head and knocking him to the ground.
In sentencing him at Sydney's District Court on Friday to at least 10-and-a-half years for the robbery and killing, Judge Gregory Woods said Khochaiche targeted the "vulnerable old man".
"Like a hunter seeking his prey, the offender followed Mr Rowan ... struck him violently to the head and stole his wallet and other things."
The court heard when Mr Rowan was attacked, the then 24-year-old Khochaiche was on bail for allegedly assaulting a 72-year-old man the previous day.
In this matter, one witness reported seeing Khochaiche bending over the 72-year-old victim, dragging him around and stomping on his head three times.
Shortly after hearing of Mr Rowan's death, he fled to Lebanon before returning to Australia in 1998.
It wasn't until last year that a police operation led to his arrest.
Although Khochaiche had pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Mr Rowan, Judge Woods said any reports that he was remorseful were "humbug".
"He had 18 years between 1994 and 2012 to which he could have given expression to his remorse.
"He could have come forward at any time and told police or the courts what he had done ... He persistently failed to do so."
The court has previously heard that Khochaiche had suffered from a serious drug problem from a young age and had lived in refuge as a teenager.
Khochaiche was sentenced to a a maximum of 14 years.
Taking into account time already served, Khochaiche will be eligible for parole in November 2022.
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