Jury selection begins for Lillo Brancato Jr. murder trial

Jury selection in the trial of former "The Sopranos" actor Lillo Brancato is set to begin Monday at the Bronx Criminal Courthouse. Brancato faces charges of second-degree murder and other crimes in the

News 12 Staff

Nov 17, 2008, 11:42 PM

Updated 5,862 days ago

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Jury selection in the trial of former "The Sopranos" actor Lillo Brancato is set to begin Monday at the Bronx Criminal Courthouse.
Brancato faces charges of second-degree murder and other crimes in the 2005 killing of NYPD Officer Daniel Enchautegui in Pelham Bay. Brancato's co-defendant, Steven Armento, was convicted of first-degree murder Oct. 30 and was sentenced last week to life in prison without parole.
Enchautegui had returned home after finishing a late shift when he heard glass breaking at the residence next door. When he went to investigate, Armento fired at him, striking him in the chest.
Brancato's defense team is planning to argue that their client was not armed and was unaware Armento was carrying a weapon.
"Lillo Brancato has never touched a gun in his life," says defense lawyer Joseph Tacopina. "[Brancato] never hurt a hair on anyone's head.