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CNN Live At Daybreak

Robert Blake Will Remain Behind Bars for at Least Another Week

Aired April 23, 2002 - 05:16   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Well, he's still in jail and Robert Blake will remain behind bars for at least another week, when there will be a hearing to discuss his bail.

CNN's Frank Buckley reports on Blake's arraignment on charges of killing his wife in cold blood.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Prosecutors say it was Robert Blake himself who shot and killed his wife, Bonnie Lee Bakley, with a vintage military handgun. In court, Blake sat next to his handyman/bodyguard, Earle Caldwell, speaking only to deny the charges.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. Braun, how does your client plead?

ROBERT BLAKE: Not guilty, Your Honor.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right, Mr. Blake enters a plea of not guilty on his own behalf. And Ms. Lautnick (ph), how does your client, Mr. Caldwell, plead?

EARLE CALDWELL: Not guilty, Your Honor.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right, not guilty.

BUCKLEY: But in their detailed felony complaint, prosecutors said Blake tried to solicit two separate people to kill Bakley, even suggesting possible murder locations, one of them behind this restaurant, where Bakley was, in fact, killed. And Caldwell, according to prosecutors, kept a list of murder items at Blake's request -- two shovels and a crow bar among them. The list also included Drano, pool acid and lye. Prosecutors say Blake even told one would be hit man that Caldwell would have already dug holes for burial.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I can't believe they planned this. I can't believe they just, I mean I knew it but I just can't believe it, seeing it and being there. They waited for her. They preyed on her. They dug holes.

BUCKLEY: Blake's attorney says the actor's defense is he didn't do it and prosecutors will have a difficult time proving anything else.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think they were doing a Hail Mary for part of this, hoping that Earle Caldwell would corroborate their theory and he hasn't come through.

BUCKLEY (on camera): Blake and Caldwell remain in custody for now. The next court date in their case set for May 1, almost exactly one year to the day after the murder of Bonnie Lee Bakley.

Frank Buckley, CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: CNN legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin says the case against Robert Blake is unfortunately like a movie and he suggests the actor could have a tough time proving his innocence.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEFFREY TOOBIN, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: This document, this complaint, is pretty extraordinary. I mean it really, it reads like a script to "Throw Momma From The Train." I mean this, he obviously, according to this document, you know, made repeated efforts to have this woman killed. It wasn't just when he did it himself, according to this accusation -- and, again, that's all it is -- he tried two different hit men plus his bodyguard, Earle Caldwell, and finally, it seems, in frustration, he did it himself.

So, if they can prove what's in this complaint, Robert Blake is in a world of trouble.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Toobin also talked about the potential defense strategy that lots of people had motives to kill Bonnie Lee Bakley. Toobin says Blake's defense lawyer would have to point to specific people with specific opportunities.

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