Former Sopranos' Actor on Trial for Murder

By Jeralyn, Section Crime in the News
Posted on Mon Nov 24, 2008 at 10:56:48 PM EST
Tags: Brancato, Felony Murder (all tags)

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Lillo Brancato Jr., who played Matthew Bevilaqua in the Sopranos and the young kid alongside Robert DeNiro in the movie Bronx Tale, is on trial in the Bronx on second degree murder and burglary charges.

His attorney (and long-time TL pal) Joe Tacopina told the jury Brancato is a drug addict, not a killer.

[Police]Officer Enchautegui, who lived next door and was asleep at the time, awoke when he heard a window break, prosecutors said. He confronted the men and shot both, but was killed when Mr. Armento shot him in the chest, prosecutors said. Mr. Armento was convicted of first-degree murder last month and sentenced to life in prison.

What the prosecution has to prove: [More...]

The prosecution contends that Mr. Brancato intended to commit burglary. To prove felony murder, it must show that burglary was Mr. Brancato’s intent, and that Officer Enchautegui died as a result.

During opening argument:

....Joseph Tacopina, asked the jury not to “compound one tragedy with another by taking the life of an innocent individual who sits before you in this trial.”

.... Mr. Tacopina said his client, who faces charges of murder and burglary, was not intending to burglarizethe house, did not have a gun, did not know that Mr. Armento had a gun and was not there to hurt anyone.

The blame for Officer Enchautegui’s death, Mr. Tacopina said, lies with Mr. Armento. “The only person responsible for his death is not in this courtroom today,” he said. “That person is Steven Armento, not Lillo Brancato.”

....Mr. Tacopina said, “He certainly succumbed to another substantial temptation, one that ruined his life, hurt his family, and that’s something that he deals with every day: Lillo Brancato is a drug addict.”