'How come I can't kill you today?' Man who shot estranged wife in face gets 10 years in prison

After shooting his estranged wife in the face and dragging her out through the shattered window of her car, Ulises Quinteros then asked, "How come I can't kill you today?"

Quinteros, 55, was sentenced Friday to 10 years in prison by Justice William Tilleman. With credit for the timehe'sbeen in custody since his arrest, Quinteros has about four years left to serve.

The details of the crime are so heinous and cruel that even the judge paused to gather himself while reading aloud the facts of the case.

Quinteros pleaded guilty to attempted murder with a firearm last November.

On Friday,Angelika Glegocinski'svictim impact statement, was read aloud, detailing the harrowing attack that happened in August 2014 after she refused to rekindle her relationship withQuinteros. The couple had ended their 14-year relationship three months earlier.

'Vivid images of my children's faces'

After stalking Glegocinski, breaking into her friend's home, following her in his car, shooting her and then ramming his vehicle into hers, Quinteros had the bleeding woman in the middle of a northwest Calgary street where he was trying unsuccessfully to strangle her because the blood from her two gunshot wounds made her neck slippery.

That was the moment Glegocinski says she felt her life slipping away.

"I instantly knew I was going to be murdered," she said.

As the physical pain began to subside, the emotional torment began.

"I only sensed helplessness and sadness with vivid images of my children's faces flashing in my head."

Attack after rejection

The couple had broken up in May 2014 after 14 years together but stayed friends. They celebrated her birthday on Aug.20, 2014. That night, he told her he wanted to get back together, but she didn't reciprocate his feelings.

Three days later, she was out with friends. Quinteros showed up and followed her to a friend's home, where he broke in through a window.

When the friend threatened to call police, he left.

An hour later,Glegocinski left her friend's house and began driving home when she noticedQuinteros was following her.

When she stopped at an intersection at Crowchild Trailand 12 Mile Coulee RoadN.W.,Quinteros pulled up beside her in his BMW, rolled down his window and shot her in the arm.

Glegocinskishot in the face

In a panic, she tried to drive away while injured but he continued to follow.

He caught up and shot her in the face. Then he began to ram her car.

Even though she was now suffering two gunshot wounds, Glegocinski managed to drive away again, trying to call 911 while bleeding from her face and shoulder.

The ramming and shooting continued and ultimately,Glegocinski's car became immobile.

He got out of his car and dragged his his former wife through the shattered glass of her driver's-side window.

Quinteros punchedGlegocinskiin the face and stomach and tried to strangle her but couldn't because the blood from her gunshot wound made her neck slippery.

'I can't believe all the bullets missed'

Begging him to stop and think of the children, Glegocinski asked whyQuinteros was trying to kill her.

He only replied: "I can't believe all the bullets missed. How come I can't kill you today?"

People began to emerge from their Tuscany homes and police were descending on the neighbourhood.

Hearing the sirens,Quinteros fled, tellingGlegocinskias he left that he would kill himself since he'd been unsuccessful in taking her life.

Quinterosdrove to Ontario, where he was later arrested.

The investigation would later determineGlegocinski's blood was all overQuinteros's car.

Quinteros apologizes

Before his sentence was handed down,Quinterosapologized to his victim.

"I had a lot of time to think about what I did," he said from the prisoner's box. "I have tried to better myself. More than anything, I feel devastated that I could commit such a crime."

Defence lawyer Alain Hepnersaid his client is "determined to get on a new path and put this behind him."

Prosecutors Michelle Kai andKirsty Binnsmade a joint submission for a 10-year sentence with defence lawyer Hepner that was accepted by Court of Queen's Bench Justice William Tilleman.

In sentencing Quinteros, the judgesaid it was nothing more than "luck" that kept this crime from being a murder.

"Your actions disregarded human life. In Canada we protect it," said Tilleman.

'Life has turned into a daunting existence'

Glegocinski'sinjuries, both physical and psychological, will last her lifetime.

She's undergone multiple surgeries and suffers from constant, intense pain after the damage to her nasal and ocular cavity. Migraines are a daily occurrence.

Glegocinskidescribes herself as "completely psychologically traumatized," sufferingsevere anxiety and panic attacks.

"My life has turned into a daunting existence, overrun by constant fears and worries for my and my children's future safety and security," she wrote.

And now she says she worries her former spouse will come after her again once he's released.

"I still do not feel safe."