The family of victim of Nicole Ayres along with a prosecutor argued that Stephen Headley should spend more than 30 years in prison.
Authorities say the 30-year-old stabbed 22-year-old Ayers more than 30 times with a pocket knife before leaving her body in a Southampton soccer field in September 2010.
At a sentencing hearing Wednesday, Judge James Palmer Jr. rejected the earlier plea deal. He gave Headley the choice of a longer prison term or facing trial.
A hearing on the case is scheduled for December 3.
