An Italian paramedic has gone on trial for allegedly stealing James Gandolfini’s Rolex watch from his wrist while he lay dying in June 2013.

The Sopranos star, who is known for playing Mafia boss Tony, died from a heart attack during a family trip to Rome. The New Jersey-born actor collapsed in the Boscolo Exedra Hotel.

Paramedic Claudio Bevilacqua, 43, has been accused of taking the £2,000 Submariner Rolex while Gandolfini was fighting for his life. Prosecutors claim Mr Bevilacqua stole the watch amid the chaos of rushing him to a hospital in Rome.

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Gandolfini was discovered unconscious on the bathroom floor of his hotel by his 13-year-old son. He was then taken to hospital where paramedics unsuccessfully attempted to revive him. He had been due to attend the Taormina film festival in Sicily to receive an award a few days later.

Mr Bevilacqua did not attend the start of the trial on Monday in Rome and has yet to enter a plea. According to reports in The Telegraph, the trial has been delayed until November.

It was first reported that his watch had been filed as stolen on an insurance form submitted by Gandolfini’s people in July of 2013.