Sopranos actor takes to the stand

Mr Brancato says he was a bystander in the murder.

Sopranos actor Lillo Brancato Jr has taken to the stand to give evidence at his murder trial in New York.

The 32-year-old is charged with the second degree murder of an off-duty police officer in 2005.

He told the court he did not know his alleged accomplice was armed when he went looking for drugs.

He added that he was suffering heroin withdrawal at the time. "I was dope sick. Mentally, I was a mess. I needed something," he said.

Drug problem

Prosecutors say that Officer Daniel Enchautegui was shot while Mr Brancato and Steven Armento were breaking into his home.

However Mr Brancato claimed there was a never a break-in.

He insisted he had known the owner, a Vietnam veteran, for several years and that he did not know he had actually died earlier that year.

Mr Brancato also told the court he did not know Mr Armento, his ex-girlfriend's father, had a gun when they went to the apartment.

Officer Daniel Enchautegui was shot dead

He claimed he had permission to go inside and take painkillers and other pills whenever he felt like it.

The actor told the court his drug problem began when he was "introduced to marijuana" on the set of A Bronx Tale.

He later became hooked on crack and heroin.

The jury heard how Mr Brancato had broken the kitchen window of the apartment to wake up his old pill-supplier.

Jurors must decide whether the star was the partner-in-crime of the man convicted of the killing, or merely a bystander.

If convicted, Mr Brancato, 32, faces a possible life term.

Mr Armento was convicted of first-degree murder in October.