Former Sopranos star Lillo Brancato Jr. has been cleared of second-degree murder in the fatal shooting of an off-duty policeman three years ago.

NYPD Officer Daniel Enchautegui was shot dead by the actor’s friend Steven Armento when he disturbed the pair breaking into his neighbour’s Bronx, New York home on December 10, 2005.

Lillo was convicted of the lesser charge of attempted burglary and now faces a minimum of three years in prison; but he could be released with time served because he has been behind bars about that long.

The actor, who got his big break starring alongside Robert DeNiro in the 1993 film A Bronx Tale, took the stand earlier this month to explain to the jury he suffered from judgment-impairing heroin withdrawals on the night of the shooting.

Armento was convicted of first-degree murder in an earlier trial and was sentenced to life in prison without parole.