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Sopranos Actor Seeks Separate Trial In Cop Slaying

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May 4, 2006 5:51 pm US/Eastern

Sopranos Actor Seeks Separate Trial In Cop Slaying

NEW YORK (AP) ―

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"Sopranos" actor Lillio Brancato Junior, who is charged in the murder of a New York City police officer, asked a judge today to keep his statements to police after the killing out of any trial.

Brancato's lawyer, Mel Sachs, said because Brancato was shot twice by dying Officer Daniel Enchautegui, his client was in no shape to be making statements to police.

The judge did not rule on the request. The case was adjourned until July 11th.

Prosecutors agree that co-defendant Steven Armento was the shooter, but Brancato also is charged with felony murder because both men were allegedly committing a burglary in the Bronx when the off-duty officer was shot and killed.

Prosecutors say the men told police that they had decided to break into the apartment in search of prescription drugs. The officer, who lived next door, confronted them in an alley and was fatally wounded during a shootout.

Brancato claims he didn't know that Armento had a gun until the shooting occurred on December 10th, 2005.

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Outside the courthouse, Pat Lynch, president of the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association, called it outrageous that -- in his words "these two junkies want the evidence collected and their statements suppressed because they made bad choices."