Ukrainian postgraduate student Pavlo Lapshyn, 25, pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to the murder of 82-year-old grandfather Mohammed Saleem in Birmingham in April and plotting to cause explosions near mosques in the West Midlands.
The daughter of a Muslim pensioner who was murdered by a Ukrainian student said she pitied her father's killer.
After seeing Pavlo Lapshyn in court, Shazia Khan said: "We just looked at him and we felt pity. He looked pathetic. He looked frightened and stressed."
She added: "We are very pleased with the outcome of today's hearing. It's a relief not to have to sit through a long and tedious trial and listen to horrific details of this violent crime.
"Our dad was a lovely, kind man who left prayers for the last time that night. He did not do anything to deserve this horrific killing other than being a Muslim.
"He was targeted simply because of his faith. His beard and his clothing represented who he was. Pavlo chose to kill him that night with only that intention in mind."
"It's such a pity that he has lost his whole life for some personal hatred or opinion that he has of a particular faith. To kill someone because of what they look like and what they believe in is unforgivable," she added.
A Ukrainian student has admitted stabbing an 82-year-old Muslim pensioner within five days of arriving in the UK.
Police have released images showing Ukrainian student Pavlo Lapshyn preparing for and carrying out attacks in the Midlands.
A timeline leading up to the conviction of Pavlo Lapshyn, who murdered pensioner Mohammed Saleem and set bombs off outside mosques.