Galway woman Karen Walsh has been found guilty of murdering her elderly neighbour, Maire Rankin, in Newry three years ago.
Pharmacist Karen Walsh, 45, was accused of murdering the 81-year-old at the pensioner's home in Co Down in the early hours of 25 December 2008.
During the two-week trial at Belfast Crown Court, the jury of seven women and five men heard that the elderly woman's naked and battered body was found by a relative on Christmas Day.
The jury returned its verdict after less than two hours of deliberation.
Judge Anthony Hart sentenced Walsh to life in prison.
She will find out at a later date the minimum term she must serve before she is eligible for release.
Mr Justice Hart said: "Whatever happened on that night, this was a brutal attack on an elderly and defenceless woman, she was completely defenceless."
As she was being led away, Walsh said "I am totally innocent".
Emily Rankin, eldest daughter of the victim, said her mother was a kind and caring person who spent her life helping people.
"She would never have hurt anybody. She had the right to feel secure in her own home but, because of her trusting nature and kindness, she was subjected to a frenzied assault and horrific murder," she said.
"She died alone - and frightened. She was deprived of a dignified death in the company of her family. Our lives have been decimated by the violent way in which mammy met her death.
"She was savagely and persistently beaten with a crucifix, clumps of hair were violently pulled out by the roots, she was left with head injuries and broken ribs before being subjected to the ultimate defilement of her body."
