The young man accused of killing an 82-year-old grandmother in her Scarborough home this week was imprisoned until just nine months ago for a violent break and enter.

And relatives of Stella Tetsos say her slaying appears to be yet another example of the criminal justice system’s shortcomings.

“The system seems to have failed and it seems to happen too often,” Peter Tsirlis, the victim’s nephew, said outside the Scarborough courthouse Friday. “Maybe he should have been incarcerated longer?”

After seeing the accused killer — Sinbad King Samba Marshall — for the first time as the 21-year-old appeared in court for a bail hearing, Tsirlis said he was relieved an arrest was made so quickly.

But he was also admittedly “angry” after learning Marshall was released from prison in February and was still on probation for another violent break and enter that was also committed near Birchmount Rd. and St. Clair Ave. E.

The victim of the 2013 robbery narrowly survived after having a knife plunged into her chest.

“My aunt was the most giving, loving person,” Tsirlis said, explaining Tetsos was “like a second mother” to him and he often spent the night at her home when he was growing up.

Tetsos, who has lived alone since her husband died a decade ago, was found dead in her home on Elfreda Blvd. around 4:30 p.m. Wednesday. A basement window had been smashed.

Investigators have said the “vibrant” and “active” senior may have been killed up to two days earlier. She died of blunt-force injuries.

Marshall, of no fixed address, was arrested at 10:30 p.m. Thursday. He’s charged with second-degree murder and break and enter to commit an indictable offence.

“This is one of those cases that just came together really quickly,” Homicide Det.-Sgt. Terry Browne said, unable to elaborate on how the suspect was identified.

He also said it was more likely a robbery gone bad than a home invasion.

Marshall will appear in court next via video on Nov. 25.

Outside court, Anna Kotsopoulos said she had to attend the hearing to see what the man accused of killing her sister-in-law looks like.

“I don’t think she was 80 lbs.,” she said. “To see that guy there, so strong, it’s devastating.”

Kotsopoulos described Tetsos as “very independent” and “generous”

“We’re all deeply saddened.”

chris.doucette@sunmedia.ca

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Accused killer Sinbad King Simba Marshall's previous conviction for a violent residential robbery:

He was 18 and on probation when he smashed a window and broke into a house near Birchmount Rd. and St. Clair Ave. E. on June 14, 2013.

He was going from room to room, searching for valuables, when a woman arrived home.

He held a knife to her throat and demanded she hand over the jewelry she was wearing.

She bit Marshall and he stabbed her in the chest, puncturing her lung.

He then filled a bag and bolted from the home.

Police arrested him on June 22, 2013.

He pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and breach of probation in January 2014. He was sentenced to 28 months but given ten months’ credit for pretrial custody. He served two thirds of his sentence and was out in February.