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CNN Live At Daybreak

Blake's Attorney Argues Former "Baretta" Star Not a Flight Risk

Aired May 02, 2002 - 05:17   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: More now on Robert Blake's murder case and surprise statements from Blake himself.

CNN's Charles Feldman was in the courtroom.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHARLES FELDMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Robert Blake's attorney, arguing in favor of bail for the former "Baretta" star, said Blake is not a flight risk and would agree to at home electronic monitoring. Then, in a dramatic moment, the 68-year-old Blake interrupted his lawyer to address the judge.

Blake said he is severely dyslexic and has suffered brain damage, making it extremely difficult for him to read evidence against him while sitting in a jail cell.

HARLAND BRAUN, ROBERT BLAKE'S ATTORNEY: So when the prosecution delivers 35,000 pages of information to us, let's assume he has to read 10 percent of it, 3,500 pages. He reads at perhaps five pages an hour, something like that. So Mr. Blake was trying to explain to the judge that keeping him in a cage is more than just being in a cage, it prevents him from having someone read these documents to him.

FELDMAN: Prosecutors told the judge that Blake is charged with a capital crime, killing his wife, Bonny Lee Bakley, and it not entitled to bail. The judge, as expected, declined bail for Blake, but said he would revisit the issue at a preliminary hearing, which could be months away.

(on camera): There was one surprise in Wednesday's proceeding. Prosecutors revealed for the first time that Robert Blake may have planned to kill Bonny Lee Bakley as far back as 1999.

(voice-over): Court documents claim Blake approached a private investigator after learning Bakley was pregnant. He allegedly suggested they could force her to have an abortion or "whack her."

Charles Feldman, CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: A lawyer for the family of Bonny Lee Bakley responded to that bail hearing and Blake's comments last night on CNN's "Larry King Live." Listen to them now.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CARY GOLDSTEIN, BAKLEY FAMILY ATTORNEY: I just don't think that his claims are anything that should be really considered at this point. There are lots of people sitting rotting in jail waiting, you know, wishing that they could put the million dollars bail up, whether or not a judge allows them to.

The problem I have, there are a lot of wealthy people, a lot of celebrities in this country, who are getting away with murder. And what's going on now is that Mr. Braun, doing a diligent job for his client, he's drawing the focus away from his client and to himself. Really, right now people are looking more at him than they are at Robert Blake.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

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