'Bronx Tale' Actor Acquitted of Murder
Filed under: Celebrities and Controversy, Newsstand
If you live in or around the New York City area, you're no doubt well aware of the Lillo Brancato Jr. murder trial. Brancato Jr., who's most known for his six-episode stint on The Sopranos and for starring in Robert De Niro's A Bronx Tale as Calogero (or 'C'), was on trial for murdering an off-duty police officer after breaking into a house to obtain drugs with a friend. The friend, Steven Armento, was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison earlier this month. Brancato Jr. claimed he did not shoot the officer, but only broke a window in the house because he was suffering intense heroin withdrawal. The house, according to Brancato Jr., belonged to a Vietnam veteran who gave the men permission to come over from time to time to get drugs.But when no one answered the door that night, the two men -- itching for that next high -- decided to break in. That's when Daniel Enchautegui, a neighbor, came to check things out. Upon finding the two men breaking in, Armento shot Enchautegui, who returned fire hitting both Brancato Jr. and Armento several times. Apparently a jury found that Brancato Jr. had nothing to do with the murder and acquitted him of those charges, but did find him guilty of attempted burglary -- a charge that could send him to prison for up to 15 years (he's already served three).
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
12-23-2008 @ 8:15PM
Jason Whitney said...
Yet this proves again that some stars can get away even with murder. Lets look at the Robert Blake case shall we? How many of these actors and other stars get away with things. A average Joe who has no money or not famous is caught with a kilo of cocaine and is sent for maybe 15 years. Now if you have money and you have that family, then you can get away with it or atleast a lesser term. Heck if your a star you will mostly likely get probation. I am so sick and tired of the courts being too nice to these famous people. Sure their famous but one thing still remains. They are people and they make mistakes too. Example again. Look at Tim McGaw and Kenny Chesney. Tim McGraw punched a cop and Kenny Chesney stole a police horse. Charges were dropped. They had a good laugh according to the report after things settled down. Oh well. Thats why I lost my respect for those two. Thats the bottom line.
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12-26-2008 @ 5:58PM
Travis said...
I wouldn't say it's completely the celebrities fault, more like the system enabling this type of behaviour. People are people, and if there's a way to get away with it opportunists will take advantage. The public should be pressuring tougher stances on these people. My opinion anyway, I don't agree with letting the rich and powerful off with a slap on the wrist when the people that need it get hammered.
12-30-2008 @ 12:10AM
Melissa said...
I HATE WHEN OTHERS ASSUME THEY KNOW IT ALL! LILO DID NOT HAVE A GUN HE DID NOT KILL ANYONE! HE WILL HOWEVER PAY FOR "HIS CRIMES"! AS FOR RICH AND POWERFUL CELEBRITIES GETTING A SLAP ON THE WRIST: DO YOU THINK ANYONE WHO WAS RICH AND POWERFUL WOULD GO TO A HOME FOR HERION? MOST CELEEBRITIES GET THEIR SHIT DELIVERED... THIS GUY WAS DOWN AND OUT, HIS BIGGEST FAULT WAS BEING AN ADDICT... I HOPE HE GETS HELP... ALSO I AM GLAD THE GUY WITH THE '''''GUN''''' WAS CONDEMED!
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