Man Beats Heroin-Addicted Roommate to Death With Hammer
The two had been living and working together. Copobianco – who was studying at St. John’s University – was working as a paralegal to Smith before the horrific attack. They both worked at the Povman Law Firm, on Queens Boulevard in Forest Hills.
Neighbors said the two lived a lavish lifestyle – dressing in high end clothing, and drinking expensive champagne regularly. Recently, though, it seemed that Copobianco had fallen onto hard times.
The two allegedly were arguing over money – and the argument escalated to murder. Copobianco was immediately arrested – and charged with second degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon – the hammer which he used to beat Smith to death.
In the subsequent investigation, police uncovered that Smith had a deep heroin addiction – a fact that his family has vehemently denied.