Nikki Hart's killer to be sentenced - 20 years to life

Updated: Monday, August 26 2013, 
12:22 PM EDT TROY -- 

The estranged boyfriend of the local 33-year-old real estate agent he admitted to killing in a drunken rage  
will be sentenced on Monday morning.   
29-year-old Jason Guynup of Troy, the live in boyfriend and father of Nikki Hart's two young 
daughters, pleaded guilty to second degree murder earlier this year. Guynup confessed to breaking into Hart's Schodack home and  stabbing her to death while she slept back in December 2012.


Hart's sister, Ashley, was also in the home at the time of the murder. She was not injured. Rensselaer County District  Attorney Richard McNally called the death of Nikki Hart a classic case of domestic violence. Guynup is expected to be  sentenced to 20 years in prison.

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TROY, N.Y. - A Rensselaer County man who admitted to killing his girlfriend and mother of his two young children was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison on Monday.

It was an emotional day in Rensselaer County Court as 37-year-old Jason Guynup of Schodack received the sentence Monday as part of a plea deal he took for the murder of 33-year-old Nikki Hart.

Eight weeks ago Guynup walked into the same courtroom and admitted to stabbing his girlfriend to death in their Schodack home last December.

Family and friends of Hart filled the courtroom Monday, emotional as victim impact statements were read.

"Jason has proven that he has zero regard for anyone's life," said Victoria Hart, Nikki Hart's mother. "I cry every day. It's a struggle to get through each day. I wake up in pain, carry it through the day and take it to bed with me each night. I hope that tomorrow will be easier. The day December 16, 2012 never ended for me."

It was on that night that police say Guynup stormed into the Bri Lan Avenue home, stabbing her in the neck while the pair's children cried for their mother in the next room.

Nikki Hart's sister recalled the details of the horrific crime in court Monday.

"Nikki was struggling to breathe when all of a sudden she stopped," said Ashley Hart, who says the day is about closure and moving forward.

"What I personally would want him to get cannot be served," Ashley Hart said. "The law handled it the right way. The DA's office was phenomenal from day one. I think he got exactly what he deserves."

The Hart family says they are relieved that they did not have to endure a trial and say they are hoping to heal together knowing that the man that took so much away from them will now sit behind bars for a very long time.

Guynup spoke in court, as well, asking his family, Nikki's family and their children for forgiveness.