A 25-year-old New York City man has been sentenced to 18 years to life for choking his former girlfriend to death and then wrapping her in plastic bags and stuffing her in a closet.
It was five days before 19-year-old Glendalyz Pagan's body was found in the closet in a vacant upper Manhattan apartment.
Andre Velez pleaded guilty last month to first-degree manslaughter in the June 2009 death of Pagan, the mother of his son.
Assistant District Attorney Nicole Blumberg said at Velez's sentencing Thursday that he committed repeated acts of violence against Pagan during a relationship that started when she was 14.
The victim's 16-year-old sister Annel Tio said to Velez in court that she hated him with all his heart.
Velez mumbled that he was sorry.
