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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