Scott J. Smith confessed in state Superior Court in Hackensack on Thursday to killing John Amendola of Wood-Ridge, The Record reported.
Scott Smith appears in Bergen County Court in Hackensack, Sept. 10, 2012. Smith pleaded not guilty to murder. (Myles Ma | NJ Advance Media)HASBROUCK HEIGHTS -- A former Hasbrouck Heights police officer has admitted to killing his childhood friend nearly four years ago with a knife and a hammer in a dispute over money, The Record reported.
Scott J. Smith confessed in state Superior Court in Hackensack Thursday to killing John Amendola of Wood-Ridge on Dec. 11, 2011, the newspaper reported. As part of a plea agreement, he'll receive a 25-year sentence in state prison for aggravated manslaughter, the newspaper reported.
As previously reported by NJ.com, Smith was indicted in July 2012 on ten counts, including murder, theft, hindering apprehension and numerous weapons charges.
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Authorities have said Smith was visiting his longtime friend John Amendola in Wood-Ridge in 2011 when the two began to argue. The argument escalated and Smith stabbed Amendola with a knife.
Smith, who served as an officer in Hasbrouck Heights for seven years, retired from the department in 2008 at the age of 29. Two years later, he was arrested on more than 40 drug-related charges, including fraudulently obtaining prescription pills.
Reporting by Dan Ivers was used in this article.
Justin Zaremba may be reached at jzaremba@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JustinZarembaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
