Patrick Jason Stollar will die by lethal injection for the 2003 slaying of Jean Heck, an elderly Upper St. Clair woman.

Throughout the trial that ended last month with the jury's verdict, Mr. Stollar was onery at times. And he remained defiant yesterday.

As he was sworn in for the sentencing hearing, Mr. Stollar refused to raise his still-shackled right hand, citing unspecified religious freedoms.

When Common Pleas Judge David R. Cashman asked whether the convict had anything to say, Mr. Stollar initially ignored the question before he began arguing that the trial should not have gone forward.

Then he slowly shook his head from side to side.

The verdict was rendered Feb. 22 by a jury.

Judge Cashman also sentenced Mr. Stollar to two consecutive terms of 10 to 20 years in prison for convictions on charges of robbery and burglary.

The sentences come in the wake of a trial in which Mr. Stollar acted as his own defense attorney with the assistance and monitoring of two court-appointed lawyers.

Mr. Stollar was hired to do yard work for Mrs. Heck at her Upper St. Clair residence. In June 2003, he broke into the home with the intent to kill and rob her, according to a confession he gave to investigators.

He beat and strangled Mrs. Heck to death.

A jury convicted him of first-degree murder, robbery, burglary and other offenses, including theft and forging two checks he stole from his 78-year-old victim.

Mrs. Heck's daughter, Andrea Kostella, said she and her family were not surprised that Mr. Stollar remained so obstinate yesterday.

"That was very hard, [but] it didn't surprise us," Ms. Kostella said after the sentencing. "Any time you have to confront him and see him, it's very hard for the family."

Deputy District Attorney Mark V. Tranquilli said the case has spurred lawmakers to consider a bill that would increase penalties against convicts for victimizing the elderly.

Mrs. Heck's family said they are relieved the case is over, and that, with the proposed sentencing amendment, she did not die in vain.

"We are pleased there's a prospect of legislation in her honor to protect the elderly everywhere," said Brent Kostella, the victim's grandson. "We're extremely happy that we can finally lay this to rest."

After the 10-minute hearing, Mr. Stollar quietly was escorted away.

His appearance was quite different from the business attire and clean shaven appearance he put on during the trial.

Yesterday he wore a dingy white T-shirt, sweat pants, white socks and tassled brown loafers.

He also sported a full, scruffy red beard and mustache.