Man charged with rape, murder from 1988

Investigators say they have caught the man who sexually assaulted and strangled a woman in her southern Sydney home 26 years ago.

Doris Fenbow, 66, was allegedly attacked in her Little Bay unit on a Saturday morning in 1988.

Police say a man - then 17 - sexually assaulted and strangled Ms Fenbow before setting her home alight.

Neighbours called police after noticing smoke drifting from the unit, and Ms Fenbow's body was found inside.

Despite an extensive police investigation and an inquest in 1989, the case went cold.

But the Unsolved Homicide Team relaunched investigations, including a full forensic review and on Monday detectives arrested a 43-year-old man at Newcastle Police Station.

The man, who is said to have lived nearby, was charged with murder, sexual assault and maliciously damaging property with the intention of endangering life.

He will remain in custody until his next court appearance at Sydney's Central Local Court on June 3.