Post by laurnsmom on Dec 22, 2008 18:32:38 GMT -5
'Sopranos' actor Lillo Brancato cleared in murder of cop, convicted of attempted burglary
This POS is just one of those people who always lands on his feet...I hope the karma bus comes down the road soon,
Updated Monday, December 22nd 2008, 6:08 PM
Greene/AP
Lillo Brancato was cleared in the murder of off-duty cop Daniel Enchautegui.
The Bronx tale of actor-turned-junkie Lillo Brancato ended Monday with a twist - he beat the rap for murdering a police officer.
Brancato was found guilty only of trying to burglarize his buddy's house, the crime that sparked the confrontation that left Officer Daniel Enchautegui dead.
Stunned by the verdict, Brancato closed his eyes while his mother, seated a couple rows back, began sobbing.
On the other side of the gallery, Enchautegui's sister appeared stricken.
"Oh my God," said Yolanda Rosa. "I waited three long years for this. I'm very disappointed. I'm very disappointed."
It took the jury four days to reach a verdict that outraged police groups, who wanted Brancato sent up the river even though it was his accomplice, Steven Armento, who pulled the trigger.
While Brancato still faces from three and 1/2 to 15 years in prison when he is sentenced on Jan. 9, he has already spent three years in jail awaiting trial.
His lawyer, Joseph Tacopina, said he could "absolutely" walk with time served.
"The worst is behind Mr. Brancato," he said. "He's very relieved."
Patrolmen's Benevolent Association head Patrick Lynch said he shared Rosa's disappointment in the verdict.
Brancato, 32, was charged with second-degree murder in connection with the killing of Enchautegui on Dec. 10, 2005.
To make the charge stick, prosecutors needed to prove Brancato was trying to break into the Bronx home of a friend, Kenny Scovotti, in a frantic search for drugs.
Based on the verdict, it appeared that prosecutors succeeded in doing so. Nevertheless, the jury acquitted Brancato of a felony murder charge that could have resulted in a life sentence.
WHY WAS HE NOT CONVICTED OF FELONY MURDER? IF HE WAS CONVICTED OF THE FELONY AND SOMEONE DIED, SHOULD HE NOT BE CONVICTED OF THE FELONY MURDER TOO??
Brancato, who once starred opposite Robert De Niro in the film "A Bronx Tale" and appeared on "The Sopranos," told the court he was no cop-killer.
The jury believed that part of his story. But the panel wasn't convinced by Brancato's claim that Scovotti supplied him with prescription drugs and often let him crash at his pad.
Brancato said that when he found the garage door locked, he banged on Scovotti's window - unaware that his friend had died several months earlier.
Baloney.
Enchautegui, who was awakened by the sound of breaking glass, came out to investigate and was shot by Armento, 52.
The off-duty officer managed to wound both Brancato and Armento before he died.
Armento was convicted earlier and is already serving a life sentence without parole.
This POS is just one of those people who always lands on his feet...I hope the karma bus comes down the road soon,
Updated Monday, December 22nd 2008, 6:08 PM
Greene/AP
Lillo Brancato was cleared in the murder of off-duty cop Daniel Enchautegui.
The Bronx tale of actor-turned-junkie Lillo Brancato ended Monday with a twist - he beat the rap for murdering a police officer.
Brancato was found guilty only of trying to burglarize his buddy's house, the crime that sparked the confrontation that left Officer Daniel Enchautegui dead.
Stunned by the verdict, Brancato closed his eyes while his mother, seated a couple rows back, began sobbing.
On the other side of the gallery, Enchautegui's sister appeared stricken.
"Oh my God," said Yolanda Rosa. "I waited three long years for this. I'm very disappointed. I'm very disappointed."
It took the jury four days to reach a verdict that outraged police groups, who wanted Brancato sent up the river even though it was his accomplice, Steven Armento, who pulled the trigger.
While Brancato still faces from three and 1/2 to 15 years in prison when he is sentenced on Jan. 9, he has already spent three years in jail awaiting trial.
His lawyer, Joseph Tacopina, said he could "absolutely" walk with time served.
"The worst is behind Mr. Brancato," he said. "He's very relieved."
Patrolmen's Benevolent Association head Patrick Lynch said he shared Rosa's disappointment in the verdict.
Brancato, 32, was charged with second-degree murder in connection with the killing of Enchautegui on Dec. 10, 2005.
To make the charge stick, prosecutors needed to prove Brancato was trying to break into the Bronx home of a friend, Kenny Scovotti, in a frantic search for drugs.
Based on the verdict, it appeared that prosecutors succeeded in doing so. Nevertheless, the jury acquitted Brancato of a felony murder charge that could have resulted in a life sentence.
WHY WAS HE NOT CONVICTED OF FELONY MURDER? IF HE WAS CONVICTED OF THE FELONY AND SOMEONE DIED, SHOULD HE NOT BE CONVICTED OF THE FELONY MURDER TOO??
Brancato, who once starred opposite Robert De Niro in the film "A Bronx Tale" and appeared on "The Sopranos," told the court he was no cop-killer.
The jury believed that part of his story. But the panel wasn't convinced by Brancato's claim that Scovotti supplied him with prescription drugs and often let him crash at his pad.
Brancato said that when he found the garage door locked, he banged on Scovotti's window - unaware that his friend had died several months earlier.
Baloney.
Enchautegui, who was awakened by the sound of breaking glass, came out to investigate and was shot by Armento, 52.
The off-duty officer managed to wound both Brancato and Armento before he died.
Armento was convicted earlier and is already serving a life sentence without parole.
