A retirement home resident has admitted to killing his frail, elderly neighbour whose body was found in a pool of blood at the Orelia complex they lived at earlier this year. Michael Andrew Dalton appeared at Stirling Garden’s Magistrate’s Court today where he pleaded guilty to murdering 82-year-old Allan Pedersen on February 6. His body was found by a neighbour when she went to collect him for an eye appointment. She had looked through the window and saw Mr Pedersen collapsed on the floor of the lounge. Friends had described the retired retired ship cook, who had lived at the home for several years, as a quiet, happy gentleman. During the hearing today, Dalton only spoke to confirm his name and to enter his guilty plea. His lawyer told the court her client had suffered from mental health issues in the past and would be requesting a psychological as well as a psychiatric report to be prepared ahead of sentencing. He is expected to be sentenced in September.
