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NEW YORK — 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.
But 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."
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Information from: Daily News, http://www.nydailynews.com
© 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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{"commentId":4270046,"authorDomain":"kissmeimabbw"}
{"commentId":4293582,"authorDomain":"own-theory"}
They dont get to personal when finding jurors.
{"commentId":4293582,"threadId":"433417","contentId":"2169170","authorDomain":"own-theory"}
- 1 vote
#2 - Thu Dec 4, 2008 4:07 PM EST{"canLink":false,"threadId":"433417","isPrivate":false}
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