Posted on 12/29/2005 9:01:37 AM PST by presidio9
A young "Sopranos" actor accused in the slaying of an off-duty police officer said in a jailhouse interview he's sorry and didn't know his alleged burglary accomplice was carrying a gun.
Lillo Brancato Jr., who appeared opposite Robert De Niro "A Bronx Tale" and more recently was in several episodes of "The Sopranos," was charged with murder and other counts in the Dec. 10 shooting of Daniel Enchautegui during a gunfight.
He told the New York Post in an interview published Thursday that he wept while reading a newspaper account of Enchautegui's funeral.
"When I saw the picture of his father, it brought tears to my eyes because he looked like one of those old-fashioned men — kind of like my father," Brancato said. "I also thought that could have been my father going to my funeral."
Enchautegui, 28, was shot after he heard Brancato, 29, and another man, Steven Armento, breaking into a basement apartment in the Bronx, authorities said. Before he died, Enchautegui wounded both suspects.
Brancato, who acknowledges problems with drugs and alcohol, said he was unaware Armento was carrying a weapon when they left a strip club to break into the apartment and steal prescription drugs. Authorities identified Armento, 48, as the gunman in the slaying.
"If I would have known, I wouldn't have allowed him in my car," Brancato said. "Imagine, we get pulled over and I get caught with an armed felon in my car. Since I've been in the movies, it would have instantly drawn attention."
Brancato said he might take the witness stand at trial to tell the jury "how horrible I feel about my stupidity."
"If I had the chance, I would want to meet his family and look them in the face and tell then how sorry I feel about what happened," he said.
Brancato was still in his teens when he played De Niro's son in "A Bronx Tale" in 1993. He appeared on six episodes of "The Sopranos" during the 1999-2000 season as a wannabe mobster who was killed by boss Tony Soprano.
Does anyone out there believe this? Anyone at all? (crickets chirping)
"Imagine, we get pulled over and I get caught with an armed felon in my car. Since I've been in the movies, it would have instantly drawn attention."
That makes sense. He wouldn't let a person with a gun in his car, but he'll take part in a burglary.
Playing to the jury pool...he's looking at what, 25+ years...man..he's gonna be a mark in the joint..
Then be led off to prison to serve his 30 years to life...what a waste. Stupid is as stupid does. He'll have time to think about alot of things he wants to say....
Pardon me, that's supposed to read, Zab Judah. Sheesh.
"Wait your turn guys," springs to mind...
Oh, well, as long as he's sorry.
He helped murder the father of a young child and now he wants to make a movie about it - narcissism to the nth power.
The other interesting part was where he claimed that he had no idea that his partner in crime was armed. In other words, he wants us to believe that, as far as he knew, he and his buddy were breaking into the home of a known drug dealer completely unarmed.
OK.
The last interesting detail is his claim that he got hooked on heroin and pills because he was adopted. I better tell a close friend of mine who was adopted - and who is a happily married husband and father with a successful business he built from scratch - that he's in immediate danger of becoming a heroin addict.
LOL, I noticed that too. But who in their right mind understands the rantings of an actor?
Darwin candidate?
Man, what an idiot! They guy had an acting career worth probably millions in front of him. What was it worth to break into a store?
Where's Tony Soprano? Someone needs to give this guy his last diet Pepsi (You sure you doan wan' somethin' wit a little sugar?"
How about Zab "the Jab" Judah
"he's sorry and didn't know his alleged burglary accomplice was carrying a gun."
Neither of which constitute a legal defense to a charge of felony murder. But it sounds like he's confessing to the burglary. Now if being STUPID was a defense...
Look: He SAID he was sorry. I believe him. I don't think he plans on shooting any more cops. What more do you want?
He definitely has a better chance of dying of AIDS in prison than he does of ever reproducing.
LOL!
Good for him. They deserve worse.
/sarc
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