A man accused of shooting dead an experienced police officer at a rural property has pleaded guilty to murder.
Constable Keith Smith, 57, was killed at North Motton in Tasmania on June 16 while he and another officer were delivering a court-ordered repossession notice.
Leigh Geoffrey Sushames, 46, was charged three days later with murder, attempted murder and aggravated assault.
Sushames appeared in Devonport Magistrates Court on Wednesday, when he entered a guilty plea to the murder of the veteran police officer.
He also pleaded guilty to a charge of aggravated assault.
The court heard the 46-year-old pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of Sergeant Gavin John Rigby, who accompanied Const Smith to the property.
Magistrate Evan Hughes accepted the pleas and adjourned the matters to the Supreme Court in Burnie on March 20.
It was the first time Sushames has appeared in court in person, previously appearing via video link.
Sushames is also facing 10 gun and drug offences, including possessing an unregistered firearm and a silencer.
Const Smith's death was the first fatal shooting of an officer in Tasmania in more than a century.
He was farewelled with full ceremonial police honours and a street procession in late June, and remembered as his family's protector and a dedicated community-focused officer.
The beloved cop received several honours, including the commissioner's medal in 2011 and the national police service medal in 2016.
