BOSTON -- The man charged with stabbing a 65-year-old Boston woman to death inside her senior citizen complex appeared in court Monday.

NewsCenter 5's Gail Huff reported that Stevie Walker, a part-time hairdresser, stood in court with his back to the camera, wearing a hospital johnnie and sporting dreadlocks.

Police said Friday he was braiding a woman's hair inside a South End high-rise apartment complex for senior citizens when he took a walk, looking for an easy robbery.

"He somehow obtained entry to the apartment and the evidence is overwhelming that a violent struggle ensued in the apartment. There was a piece of a dreadlock that was on the floor in the apartment," prosecutor Timothy Bradl said.

Galina Kotik was stabbed more than 10 times.

"There was change strewn about and there was blood on the floor," Bradl said.

Kotik emigrated to the United States years ago. Monday, her grown daughter sat in the courtroom, sobbing.

Walker has been in court before. In 1987, he was convicted of armed assault and given a 20-year prison sentence. He was released on parole. In January 2002, he was convicted of assault and battery and larceny. In September 2002, he was convicted of armed robbery. In December 2004, he was convicted of larceny again after robbing a CVS store on Charles Street. He wasn't supposed to get out of jail until next month.

Kotik's neighbors at Symphony Towers were still nervous Monday, but thankful that someone was under arrest for her murder.