Seventy-year-old Melvin Yoshida shuffled into District Court yesterday morning for his initial appearance on a charge of murdering Clare B. Silva, 54, Sunday at her Punchbowl apartment.

Yoshida was barefoot, shackled at the wrists and ankles and wore a white jail jumpsuit.

He was represented by Deputy Public Defender Robert Olson and said nothing at the brief hearing.

District Judge Edwin Nacino continued bail at $100,000 and set a preliminary hearing in the case for Friday, although Yoshida could be indicted by a grand jury before then.

According to a police affidavit, Yoshida admitted to shooting Silva in her apartment and intended to kill himself but lost his nerve.

He referred to Silva as his girlfriend but other residents and acquaintances at Punchbowl Homes said the two did not have a relationship. They said Yoshida had been pressuring Silva and other women to be his girlfriend since his wife died in February 2008.

Yoshida is charged with second-degree murder and firearms offenses.