Sopranos actor Lillo Brancato Jr will go on trial next month charged with the murder of an off-duty police officer shot dead in New York in 2005.
A judge has ruled that the actor, who played Matt Bevilacqua in the drama's second series, will be tried separately from co-defendant Steven Armento.
The two men were allegedly carrying out a burglary at the time of the killing.
Mr Armento is accused of firing the fatal shot. Mr Brancato, 32, says he did not know Mr Armento had a gun.
Prosecutors had wanted the two of them tried together.
They say that, on 10 December, the two defendants broke into an apartment in search of prescription drugs after visiting a strip club together.
They were then confronted by off-duty officer Daniel Enchautegui who was killed in an alley after a shoot-out, prosecutors add.
Mr Brancato made his screen debut opposite Robert De Niro in 1993's A Bronx Tale and appeared in a number of other films before appearing in The Sopranos.
Mr Armento will go on trial on 29 September while Mr Brancato's trial date has been set for 28 October.
(BBC)
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