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Nixon Bourguignon, 38, had tried to claim that he was under the influence of Ambien when he strangled Shannon Coleman in their Haverstraw apartment about 10:30 p.m. May 7, 2014.
A jury rejected the claim, however, and, in October 2015, found him guilty of second-degree murder, a felony.
In a statement issued after the sentencing Friday, District Attorney Thomas Zugibe said Bourguignon killed Coleman during a "protracted breakup of their relationship."
"A woman with her whole life ahead of her was senselessly murdered," Zugibe said. "The defendant will now likely face most, if not all, of the remainder of his life in prison. Hopefully, the victim's family will find some measure of justice in this verdict."
Bourguignon was apologetic in court Friday, telling Supreme Court Justice William Kelly that he regretted his actions and loved Coleman, according to lohud.com.
Coleman's siblings also spoke, telling Kelly that Coleman's children were having difficulties coping with their mother's death, according to lohud.com.
According to Zugibe, the jury found that Bourguignon violently attacked Coleman inside their home in the Mountainside apartment complex. Coleman had two young boys, who were both home during the attack. The younger of the two was fathered by Bourguignon, Zugibe said.
Bourguignon's case was prosecuted by Executive Assistant District Attorney Dominic Crispino.
Click here to read the lohud.com report.
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