<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A man who pleaded guilty to the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/shootings/2" rel="" target="" title="shooting"><span>shooting</span></a><span> murder of an experienced </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/police" rel="" target="" title="police"><span>police</span></a><span> officer at his rural property is edging closer to learning his fate.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Constable Keith Smith, 57, was killed at North Motton, in northwest </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/tasmania" rel="" target="" title="Tasmania"><span>Tasmania</span></a><span>, on June 16 while he and another officer were delivering a court-ordered repossession notice.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Leigh Geoffrey Sushames was charged three days later with murder, attempted </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/murder" rel="" target="" title="murder"><span>murder</span></a><span> and aggravated </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/assault" rel="" target="" title="assault"><span>assault</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>LIVE UPDATES:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-iran-war-live-updates-march-20-donald-trump-latest-world-news-headlines/18fc26c3-7b96-4e44-859e-cfb9ccb3f31d" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Trump drops Pearl Harbour reference in meeting with Japanese PM</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The 46-year-old pleaded guilty to the murder and aggravated assault in January.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Sushames appeared via video link from prison in the Supreme </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/courts" rel="" target="" title="Court"><span>Court</span></a><span> of Tasmania on Friday.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A sentencing hearing, part of the process during which statements from people who knew the victim are often heard, was set for May 14 in Burnie.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/date-set-for-first-step-in-cop-killers-sentencing/df2334aa-f50f-436b-9562-fdac0be39c8a" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Sushames will be brought to court for the hearing.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He has pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of Sergeant Gavin John Rigby, who accompanied Const Smith to the property.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Constable Smith was farewelled with full ceremonial police honours and a street procession, and remembered as a dedicated community-focused officer.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>LIVE UPDATES:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/tropical-cyclone-narelle-live-updates-tracker-queensland-latest-news-headlines/863bc4e8-cea0-4cc6-b19d-be2cbab60902" target="_blank"><strong><span>Narelle bears down on coast with 'very destructive' 285km/h wind gusts</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>His death was the first fatal shooting of an officer in Tasmania in more than a century.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The beloved cop received several honours, including the Commissioner's Medal in 2011 and the National Police Service Medal in 2016.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Sushames is also facing 10 </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/guns" rel="" target="" title="gun"><span>gun</span></a><span> and </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/drugs" rel="" target="" title="drug"><span>drug</span></a><span> offences, including possessing an unregistered firearm and a silencer.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></strong></em><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><em><strong><span>Download 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