A judge on Tuesday sentenced a 36-year-old Lawrence man to nearly 13 years in prison for stabbing and nearly killing his ex-girlfriend.

Rojelio Barron pleaded no contest to attempted first-degree murder in connection with the stabbing Aug. 2 at Colony Woods apartments, 1301 W. 24th St. Barron’s attorney, Jim Rumsey, said his client had no recollection of the attack and had been using cocaine and drinking before it happened.

The victim, who survived the attack with 30 stab wounds to her neck and head, was not in the courtroom for the sentencing.

• 6News video: Sentence handed down in stabbing

Barron had been charged about two weeks before the stabbing with felony aggravated battery for allegedly choking the woman at the same apartment and had been ordered not to go back. But Dist. Atty. Charles Branson said that when he came by to get some of his belongings, the woman let him in.

That’s when he asked the victim whether she would testify against him; when she said yes, he attacked her, Branson said.

Branson said the woman was alive only because a passer-by discovered her shortly after the stabbing and because police were able to slow her bleeding at the scene. He said the woman is suffering flashbacks and having trouble breathing because of the stab wounds.