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'Sopranos' Star James Gandolfini's Rolex Stolen by Paramedic: Officials

A paramedic who rushed a dying James Gandolfini to hospital has been accused of being even more ruthless than Tony Soprano.
Image: James Gandolfini
James Gandolfini plays Tony Soprano in a scene from one of the final episodes of "The Sopranos."Craig Blankenhorn / HBO via AP, file
By Claudio Lavanga

FROM JUNE 27, 2013: Sopranos cast turns out for Gandolfini’s funeral

June 27, 201300:44

ROME — A paramedic who rushed James Gandolfini to hospital after the actor suffered a massive heart attack has been accused of being nearly as ruthless as Tony Soprano.

Claudio Bevilacqua, 43, went on trial on Monday for allegedly snatching "The Sopranos" star's $3000 Rolex Submariner watch as he laid dying in June 2013.

Image: James Gandolfini
James Gandolfini plays Tony Soprano in a scene from one of the final episodes of "The Sopranos."Craig Blankenhorn / HBO via AP, file

It is still unclear whether the watch vanished from Gandolfini's room in the Boscolo Exedra Hotel in Rome, Italy, or whether the actor was wearing it when he collapsed.

Bevilacqua was not present in court Monday for the case's first hearing, which lasted only a few minutes.

The judge postponed the start of the trial until November.

Claudio Lavanga

Claudio Lavanga is Rome-based foreign correspondent for NBC News.