 Lillo Brancato: Cleared of murder charge
On Monday Lillo Brancato, who portrayed the character of a bumbling aspiring mobster on the film titled "The Sopranos," got clearance from second-degree murder charge. In fact he was accused of shooting an off-duty policeman during a drunken, late-night search for drugs.
Sources have thrown more light on the news of Lillo Brancato. The jury has convicted him of a lesser charge of attempted burglary. He faces a minimum of 3 years of imprisonment on that count. However the former actor could get credit for time served since he was put behind bars about that long.
Lillo Brancato showed no reaction at the time when verdict was read out. His face impassive, his fingers pressed together. His mother, seated a couple rows back in the gallery, started crying.
According to the prosecutors Lillo Brancato and his accomplice Steven Armento broke into a basement apartment on charge of stealing prescription drugs after a night of drinking at a strip club. Officer Daniel Enchautegui, who lived next door, came out to investigate.
Armento blasted the 28-year-old officer with his .357 Magnum and consequently hit him in the heart. The dying officer fired back thereby hurting both the men. Armento was convicted earlier this year of first-degree murder and was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole.
Yolanda Rosa Nazario, the victim's sister, admitted that she was baffled by the verdict that was given to Lillo Brancato.
"What message is this sending out to the New York City police officers today? It's wrong," added Brancato’s sister.
"This would not have happened if not for this animal's drug habit," "The only good thing is that this skunk is not walking out to spend Christmas with his family. The sad part is that neither is Daniel." This comment was put forth by Patrolmen's Benevolent Association head Patrick Lynch.
Lillo Brancato was led out of court in handcuffs. The next hearing is scheduled to be held on 9th January.
Defense lawyer Joseph Tacopina too was available for comments. He said that his client was relieved with the verdict. He continued, "There was never going to be smiles," "This is not a case that warrants that."
Further he said, "This will be a second chance for him in life. ... Lillo's committed to taking advantage of it."
Lillo Brancato became famous in the 1993 movie "A Bronx Tale," where he played the character of a young kid from the neighborhood who is toned between two worlds and two men: a local mobster played by Chazz Palminteri and his straight-and-narrow bus-driver father, played by Robert De Niro.
Thirty two year old Lillo Brancato and forty eight year old Armento were drinking together at a strip club in December 2005. After that he decided to break into the basement apartment in a hunt for Valium.
Lillo Brancato testified during the trial there was a never a break-in. He claimed that he had known the owner, a Vietnam veteran, for several years. He also said he had taken permission to go inside and take painkillers and other pills whenever he felt like it, and did not know the man who had died earlier that year.
The pills were part of a drug problem, which according to him, began when he was "introduced to marijuana" on the set of "A Bronx Tale." He later became hooked on crack and heroin.
Lillo Brancato told the jury that while suffering from judgment-impairing heroin withdrawals on the night of the shooting, he accidentally broke the kitchen window of the apartment in a desperate attempt to wake up his old pill-supplier. |
News / Gossips by Atlgurl2007
