Robert
Blake Not Guilty
03-16-05
.
(antiTainment) Update: Actor Robert Blake
sat with a worried look on his face as he prepared to hear the verdict
of the jury in the murder trial of his wife Bonny Lee Bakley. The jury
foreperson Thomas Nicholson notified Superior Court Judge Darlene
Schempp that the jury had reached a verdict on two of the three counts
but were deadlocked 11 to 1 on the second count of the indictment, one
of the two solicitation of murder charges.
Blake's worried face changed to relief
as the count one verdict of not guilt on the charge of murder was read.
Blake was also found not guilt on one of the two counts of solicitation
of murder.
Blake was charged with the 2001 fatal shooting
of his wife, Bonny Lee Bakley, 44, as she sat in a car outside of Vitello's
Italian restaurant in Studio City. The shooting took place after the couple
had dined at the restaurant.
The jury took eight days to deliberate
on the three counts of the indictment. The jury were deadlocked 11-1 in
favor of acquittal on the second solicitation charge. Judge Schempp then
dismissed that count.
Outside the courtroom Blake spoke with
reporters after he took a knife and cut off the electronic tracking devise
he had been required to wear. He told reporters that the case had take
a big toll on him. If you want to know how to go through $10 million
in five years, ask me," he said. "I'm broke. I need a job."
Then when a reporter questioned him
about who he believed murdered Bakley, Blake shouted, "Shut up!"
The jury said they reached their decision
because the prosecution built their case on "flimsy" circumstantial evidence.
"We didn't have enough evidence to say whether he did or didn't" commit
the murder, juror Lorie Moore said.
"They couldn't put the gun in his hand,"
the jury foreman said.
Another member of the jury, Roberto Emerick
said that he wasn't convinced of Blake's guilt when the prosecution rested
their case. "I didn't see the need for the defense to get up and say anything,"
he said.
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