Gerald Austin, who was found guilty in February of strangling an 81-year-old woman 25 years ago, was sentenced Wednesday to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Circuit Judge Colette Garibaldi said the extended term was necessary for the protection of the public.

Edith Skinner was killed in her apartment in a senior housing complex on Kalakaua Avenue in 1989. DNA was recovered from Skinner’s body, but police were unable to link it to anyone until 2011, when a match was made with Austin.

Austin, 54, was 29 years old at the time of the killing.