Stephen Headley of Florence must serve 85 percent of the term imposed Wednesday. He had pleaded guilty in July to first-degree murder charges.
The 30-year-old Headley admitted stabbing 22-year-old Nicole Ayres several times in the face, torso and back in September 2010 after they argued at a convenience store. Her body was found near an athletic field in rural Southampton Township, south of Trenton.
Ayres was a former high school and college softball star from Deptford who had only known Headley a short time. Neither Headley nor prosecutors have disclosed what they argued about.
Headley initially was offered a 30-year sentence, but a judge rejected that after Ayres's family objected.
