FREEHOLD, N.J. (CBSNewYork) — There was no remorse Thursday from the veteran Neptune, New Jersey police officer who gunned down his wife – the mother of their nine children.

As CBS2’s Tony Aiello reported, prosecutors want Philip Seidle either to die in prison or be almost 80 years old when he walks free. He agreed to a plea deal in court Thursday.

The longtime Neptune police sergeant chased his ex-wife’s car into Asbury Park last June, with his 7-year-old daughter riding in his sport-utility vehicle.

Tamara Seidle crashed, and her ex then approached and fired 12 times, killing the mother of their nine children.

He admitted that after the shooting, he sent a text to his children that said, “Your mother is dead because of her actions.’’

On Thursday, prosecutors agreed to a lesser charge of aggravated manslaughter in order to spare the children from testifying – a move supported by the oldest Seidle child.

“To avoid further trauma to our family, we have thoughtfully accepted this guilty plea,” said Kirsten Seidle. “My family and I will not be answering any questions.”

Wearing an orange prisoner jumpsuit with his hands shackled in court Thursday, Philip Seidle had a lot to say – hinting that he was driven to act because he was outraged that his wife’s new boyfriend had moved in.

“She had condemned me to my children for three and a half years for being with someone else, and then, I never even introduced my kids to my lady. And now she moves this guy in and replaces me with him, and makes him their father,” Philip Seidle said. “You know, she commits adultery.”

During a standoff with police after the shooting, Seidle texted a friend, “I got tired of Tamara’s (expletive) and shot her.”

“This is, hands down, one of the ugliest cases we’ve seen,” said Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni.

Gramiccioni called the victim a great, loving light, and said he will refute the ugly comments from the killer when sentencing comes around.

Seidel testified he was with his youngest daughter that day to buy her a dress for a daddy-daughter dance. The nine children are suing various Monmouth County agencies, claiming that given a history of domestic disputes, Seidel shouldn’t have been a police officer and shouldn’t have had a gun.

Prosecutors will ask for 30 years in prison for Seidle. The defense said there are “mitigating circumstances” that justify a shorter term.”

Sentencing is set for August.

June 17, 2015 Original Story

A New Jersey police sergeant appeared in court Wednesday, a day after he allegedly shot and killed his ex-wife in front of one of their nine kids.

Neptune Sgt. Phillip Seidle is accused of running his ex-wife Tammy off the road Tuesday and then shooting her at point blank range with his service revolver in Asbury Park.

He was arrested after an intense standoff with police in front of the couple’s 7-year-old daughter.

Prosecutors say he fired the shots as their 7-year-old daughter sat in his car, CBS2’s Christine Sloan reported.

“Go over to her driver’s side of the window and fire inside that car not once, not twice but multiple, multiple times,” Assistant Prosecutor Marc LeMieux said during Seidle’s arraignment.

Police responding to the scene were able to pull the child out after the next series of shots were fired, Sloan reported.

Witnesses captured the tragedy on video that CBS2 chose not to air.

“There was a lot of yelling between him and the police,” one witness said. “He was saying he was tired of going to court for child support. After that, he shot the lady through the car three times.”

After the shooting, prosecutors said Phil Seidle pointed the gun at his head and held police at bay for about 30 minutes until they were able to persuade him to surrender. He was then taken into custody.

Tamara Seidle, 51, was taken to a hospital, where she died a short time later.

The couple divorced last month and have nine children together between the ages of 7 and 24.

Prosecutors are looking into whether a recently divorced off-duty police officer who authorities said chased down and fatally shot his ex-wife may have done so over a bitter custody battle, CBS2’s Jannelle Burrell reported.

Friends say Seidle had a history of domestic violence against his wife but the court wouldn’t give her a final restraining order because of his position as a cop, Sloan reported.

“He had a temper but I wouldn’t say to the extreme, but he had a temper. I’ve seen it before,” said Tamara Seidle’s Godson Jameen Murphy.

“She had told me her ex kicked her while pregnant. That he had pointed a loaded gun at her head when she was pregnant,” said Tammy’s friend Rachel Alintoff.

Seidle has served on the force for 22 years. Officials would not comment on the restraining order or why cops on the scene didn’t shoot Seidle as he fired his weapon leading to an hour standoff, Sloan reported.

“In part, we were able to have him surrender because a cell phone that contained photographs of his children was passed to him,” Said Monmouth County Prosecutor Chris Gramiccioni.

“He had a temper but I wouldn’t say to the extreme, but he had a temper. I’ve seen it before,” said Tamara Seidle’s Godson Jameen Murphy.

Friends and family of the former couple came to the courthouse Wednesday.

“We are doing fine we are supporting our nephew,” said Seidle’s aunt.

“You can just imagine if they were your children you’d feel the same way,” said Jessica.

He is being held on $2 million bail that his attorney said he will fight.