A St. Paul man was sentenced to 16¼ years in prison for brutally attacking his sister-in-law and leaving her to die.

Paul Lee, 23, pleaded guilty in Ramsey County District Court in September to two counts of attempted second-degree murder. He admitted to choking his sister-in-law and slashing her neck and chest with a knife.

Lee was sentenced to 16¼ years in prison for the first conviction. He was sentenced to 15 years for the second conviction, but that was stayed for 20 years' probation, meaning he won't serve the second prison time unless he violates probation.

According to charges: Lee made a surprise visit to his sister-in-law's house on May 17 and asked to use her phone. He attacked her, strangling the woman until she lost consciousness. The woman was in and out of consciousness and woke up to Lee stabbing her in the neck.

Lee also slashed the woman, who eventually escaped just as her boyfriend was arriving at the house. Lee also cut the boyfriend. The woman told police she believe Lee sexually assaulted her with an unknown object.

Lee told police he went to the home after drinking, and was "one-hundred percent sure" he had killed the woman.

Chao Xiong