Blake Pleads Not Guilty to Murdering Wife

April 22, 2002 -- Robert Blake pleaded not guilty today to a four-count murder indictment that could bring the death penalty after prosecutors formally charged him with his wife's slaying.

Blake, and his chauffeur and bodyguard Earle Caldwell, were arraigned this afternoon in Van Nuys Superior Court in the San Fernando Valley for the shooting death of Blake's wife Bonny Lee Bakley.

In their criminal complaint, prosecutors said Blake "personally and intentionally" fired the gun that killed his wife almost a year ago.

Blake, 68, faces a four-count complaint specifying 18 "overt acts." In addition to murder, Blake was charged with conspiracy, solicitation of murder, and lying in wait, in the shooting death of Bakley, 44. Caldwell was charged with conspiracy to commit murder.

Under California law, "lying in wait" is a special circumstance that can allow the death penalty.

Blake and Caldwell sat silently and expressionless during the 5-minute arraignment. Blake spoke only when he entered his not guilty plea.

Prosecutors and defense attorneys decided they were not prepared to address whether both men should receive bail and decided to reconvene May 1 to set a date for a preliminary hearing. Prosecutors have said they would oppose bail for Blake.

Alleged Months of Murder Recruiting

Blake was arrested last Thursday along with Caldwell.

Prosecutors believe Blake approached at least two other people besides Caldwell about killing Bakley, planning her slaying as far back as January 2001.

In January and March 2001, the complaint said, Blake showed someone a gun in a zippered case that was to be used to kill Bakley. On different occasions, prosecutors said, Blake suggested various places where Bakley could be killed, such as Bullhead City, Ariz., and outside Vitello's Restaurant in Studio City, where she was ultimately shot to death.

In April 2001, during a trip with Blake and Bakley to Parker, Ariz., and Three Rivers, Calif., an armed Caldwell hid in bushes on the bank of a river, prosecutors said, presumably waiting for a chance to kill the woman.

In the criminal complaint, prosecutors allege that at Blake's request, Caldwell kept a list of murder items at the ready that included two shovels, a small sledge, a crowbar, old rugs, duct tape, Drano, pool acid and lye. The list included the instruction, "Get blank gun ready," prosecutors said.

Ties to the Murder Weapon?

After unsuccessful attempts to get someone else to kill Bakley, Blake, prosecutors said, shot her himself as as she sat in his car after they ate dinner at Vitello's Italian restaurant. They believe Blake threw the murder weapon in a trash bin nearby, which was recovered by authorities.

Los Angeles police refuse to comment specifically on the evidence that led to Blake's arrest. However, L.A. Police Chief Bernard Parks said last week that the case involved more than 900 items of evidence and 150 witnesses in 20 states. Police officials said they also had physical and "significant and compelling circumstantial evidence" against Blake.

The recovered gun, a Walther pistol described as a collector's weapon, still contained one bullet, which matched the two bullets used to kill Bakley. A source close to the investigation told ABCNEWS at the time that police found a box of ammunition of the same brand in Blake's house. Three bullets were missing from the box, the source said.

Blake's defenders pointed out he is an avid gun collector, and note the brand of ammunition, Remington Peters, is a popular brand.

Weary of the O.J. Legacy

Blake has denied any involvement in the killing. He told police they walked to the car together but he had returned to the restaurant to retrieve a gun he had left behind. When he returned, Bakley was dead, he said.

For nearly a year, the case appeared stalled as no witnesses stepped forward and little evidence emerged. But police insisted the investigation was not dead.

Blake's lawyer, Harland Braun, is expected to oppose cameras in the courtroom during the trial. Today's arraignment was broadcast live. Prosecutors have said they will argue the public should be allowed to see it.

Prosecutors are eager not to repeat mistakes made in other high-profile cases in the city, said attorney Johnnie Cochran, who represented O.J. Simpson during his murder trial.

"The prosecution has lost a lot of big cases out there. They are concerned about that and they want to win this case," he told ABCNEWS' Good Morning America today.

Wanted to Get Out of the Marriage

Police said Blake killed his wife to get out of their marriage. Blake married Bakley after she gave birth to a child, Rosie, she initially said was fathered either by Blake or her ex-boyfriend, Christian Brando, Marlon Brando's son.

DNA tests showed Blake was the father and he married her. The relationship was tumultuous, police said, with Bakley living in a guest house in back of Blake's home on his property.

Blake has denied involvement in his wife's killing from the very beginning. However, Bakley's family — particularly her mother, sister and grown daughter — have said they believed he was involved in the slaying, and cited alleged abuse and threats made by Blake.

"Robert did not want to pay child support," said Bakley family attorney Cary Goldstein. "Robert did not want to marry Bonny. Robert wanted Bonny out of the picture, but he wanted his child."

Bakley's family has threatened to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the former Baretta star.

‘Risky’ Defense Strategy

Braun has painted an unsympathetic picture of Bakley since the beginning of the investigation, portraying her as a lifelong grifter who was obsessed with being a celebrity's wife. He suggested that Bakley could have given Blake a motive to kill her but insists on his client's innocence.

"What this lady did to his life was horrific," said Braun. "So he understood that he was there and he has a motive. But he maintains that he didn't do it."

Bakley's shady past, he said, ultimately led to her death. He released tapes of Bakley's phone conversations made before her marriage to Blake, where she seemed torn between pursuing Blake or Christian Brando. He has also submitted boxes of tapes, letters, photos and other documents to police to suggest that Bakley defrauded several people, giving them a motive for killing her.

Braun has been criticized for his portrayal of Bakley, but experts say he has to do anything he can to remind the public that Blake is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.

"To tar her early on is offensive to some people and a jury could get mad at that," says Cochran. "A jury could get mad where there could be special circumstances and he could ultimately get the death penalty."

Cochran also said prosecutors could further build their case against Blake by focusing on Caldwell and offering him a plea deal, especially if he faces conspiracy charges.

Baby Rosie in Blake’s Family’s Care

Blake was transferred to the hospital ward of the L.A. County Jail Friday morning. Police said Blake was not sick but was moved for his own protection. He was placed in isolation and under 24-hour suicide watch at the jail, which is not unusual for people arrested in high-profile cases.

It was not clear how long he was expected to remain in the hospital ward.

Before his arrest, Blake had remained reclusive, focusing on caring for his 2-year-old Rosie at his home in Studio City. With his incarceration, Blake's adult daughter is now caring for the baby girl.