NYC murder trial opens for former Sopranos' actor

[NWOWolfpack]

NEW YORK (AP) - A prosecutor at the murder trial of Lillo Brancato Jr. says the former "Sopranos" actor got involved in the killing of an off-duty police officer during a desperate mission to steal prescription drugs.

But the defense said Monday in opening statements that the only culprit was the man already convicted in the shooting.

Brancato, 32, is charged with second-degree murder in the 2005 death of Officer Daniel Enchautegui.

The other man, Steven Armento, was convicted of murder on Oct. 30 and has been sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Brancato made his debut in 1993 in "A Bronx Tale" opposite Robert De Niro. He's appeared in more than a dozen other movies and played a doomed aspiring mobster in HBO's "The Sopranos."

[keithlewis]

NEW YORK (AP) - Former "Sopranos" actor Lillo Brancato knew a fellow junkie was carrying a gun before a break-in that led to the deadly shooting of an off-duty police officer, a drug dealer testified Friday.

Joseph Borelli's testimony could prove vital in Brancato's second-degree murder trial, which may hinge on whether the jury believes the "A Bronx Tale" star knew about associate Steven Armento's loaded weapon. Brancato says he didn't.

However, Borelli testified that Armento pulled the gun on him, while Brancato watched, minutes before the shooting on Dec. 10, 2005.

The two had dashed to Borelli's house after trying to break into a nearby Bronx apartment looking for drugs to steal, said Borelli, 53, who said he had been Brancato's heroin and crack dealer.

"Armento came out like this, with a gun - with a pistol," said Borelli, adding that he chased Armento away with an ax handle.

Prosecutors say Brancato and Armento then returned to the apartment, where Officer Daniel Enchautegui - who lived next door - confronted them. Armento shot Enchautegui, who fired back and wounded both men.

Armento has been convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Defense lawyer Joseph Tacopina has acknowledged Brancato was a "strung out" drug addict. But Tacopina has said the former actor never intended to hurt anyone.

Tacopina has portrayed Borelli as a liar looking for leniency in his own legal troubles.

Brancato, 32, made his 1993 debut in "A Bronx Tale" opposite Robert De Niro. He has appeared in more than a dozen other movies and played a doomed aspiring mobster in HBO's "The Sopranos."

(Copyright Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)