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Robert Blake Acquitted

By TChris, Section Crime in the News
Posted on Wed Mar 16, 2005 at 03:54:36 PM EST
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by TChris

It all came down to this:

"They couldn't put the gun in his hand," jury foreman Thomas Nicholson told reporters outside court.

And this:

The police "convicted Mr. Blake on the night of the murder, and then they conducted an incompetent investigation," defense attorney M. Gerald Schwartzbach said.

And so a jury that took seriously its oath to follow the law found reason to doubt that Robert Blake killed his wife, acquitting him of murder and of soliciting murder after nine days of deliberation. Kudos to the defense team for exposing the gaps in the prosecution's evidence.

Update: (TalkLeft)

The 71-year-old star of the 1970s detective drama ''Baretta'' dropped his head, trembled with emotion and sobbed heavily as the verdict was read. He hugged his lawyer and later almost fell while reaching for a water bottle.

Outside the courthouse, Blake thanked his lawyers and private investigators, saying ''this small band of dedicated warriors saved my life.'' He also described the financial toll the case had taken 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.''

At one point, Blake asked someone in the crowd for something to remove his electronic monitoring bracelet. He then bent down and cut off the device.

Major kudos from me as well.

< Prosecutors Held Accountable After Nine Years in Prison | Bush Won't Stop Packaging Propaganda As News >

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    • Robert Blake Acquitted | 16 comments (16 topical)
    Re: Robert Blake Acquitted (none / 0) (#1)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Mar 16, 2005 at 04:40:01 PM EST
    i fully support this decision, but i have to admit i find it a bit surprising.

    Re: Robert Blake Acquitted (none / 0) (#2)
    by Che's Lounge on Wed Mar 16, 2005 at 04:53:28 PM EST
    This is why I have a hard time defending Scott Perterson. Blake did what I would have done if accused of a murder I didn't commit. He spoke up. Loudly. With many colorful metaphores for the prosecution. But I wonder about the outcome if Bonnie Lee had been pregnant?

    Re: Robert Blake Acquitted (none / 0) (#3)
    by nolo on Wed Mar 16, 2005 at 05:10:44 PM EST
    I also wonder about the outcome if Bonnie Lee had been as "angelic" as Laci Peterson. But I agree that the prosecution didn't make their case.

    Re: Robert Blake Acquitted (none / 0) (#4)
    by John Mann on Wed Mar 16, 2005 at 05:16:57 PM EST
    Another Hollywood trial and another Hollywood verdict. So what else is new?

    Re: Robert Blake Acquitted (none / 0) (#5)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Mar 16, 2005 at 05:22:26 PM EST
    Poor Jay Leno. He'll be crushed.

    Re: Robert Blake Acquitted (none / 0) (#6)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Mar 16, 2005 at 06:54:05 PM EST
    Being an old guy, I just don't think he did kill his wife, justice did something right this time. and this will be a movie in one year, hope its HBO.

    Re: Robert Blake Acquitted (none / 0) (#7)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Mar 16, 2005 at 07:19:40 PM EST
    So Blake tried to hire a stunt man to kill his wife? If he didn't do it, who did?

    Re: Robert Blake Acquitted (none / 0) (#8)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Mar 16, 2005 at 08:13:50 PM EST
    The message here is as follows; become a celebrity BEFORE you kill your wife (or former wife), and you'll get away with it. It will be interesting to see if there is a wrongful death case, and if so, what the verdict is.

    Re: Robert Blake Acquitted (none / 0) (#9)
    by Johnny on Thu Mar 17, 2005 at 12:41:42 AM EST
    Dear Horse: If he didn't kill his wife, who did? We leave that to the state to try and find out, you won't get your answer here.

    Re: Robert Blake Acquitted (none / 0) (#10)
    by kdog on Thu Mar 17, 2005 at 05:56:25 AM EST
    It is expected for a guilty man to go free once in awhile. I'm relieved the system is still semi-functional. There was simply not enough eveidence, and reasonable doubt aplenty.

    Re: Robert Blake Acquitted (none / 0) (#11)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Mar 17, 2005 at 06:57:06 AM EST
    "You bet'cum, Red`Rider."

    Re: Robert Blake Acquitted (none / 0) (#12)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Mar 17, 2005 at 08:03:43 AM EST
    I just don't get it -- Blake gets acquitted of the homicide of his definitely murdered, shot to death wife because the prosecution"couldn't put the gun in his hand". Scott Peterson gets the death penalty for the homicide of his probably murdered wife with no cause, time or place of death. WTF?!

    Re: Robert Blake Acquitted (none / 0) (#13)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Mar 17, 2005 at 09:52:07 AM EST
    I think Bush killed his wife.

    Re: Robert Blake Acquitted (none / 0) (#15)
    by Dadler on Thu Mar 17, 2005 at 01:22:04 PM EST
    i think this jury, naturally, is uneasy admitting that bonnie bakely's conwoman proclivities didn't play into their doubt. impossible that it didn't. let's remember, scott peterson never had a weapon put in his hand either. and he never SOLICITED HITMEN to off his wife. and he got convicted. this case was ALL about bonnie bakely's unsavory character. how you kill isn't half as important as WHO you kill. the sad truth.

    Re: Robert Blake Acquitted (none / 0) (#16)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Mar 17, 2005 at 03:25:04 PM EST
    It will be interesting to see if there is a wrongful death case, and if so, what the verdict is.
    already in the works!

    Re: Robert Blake Acquitted (none / 0) (#17)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Mar 18, 2005 at 03:30:07 PM EST
    jerry has done the hardest cases for the most years for the least ego in the whole profession. Spanky happened by him by accident as have many others. He is the lowest key and the hardest working.The re is deep justice in any credit he gets

    Robert Blake Acquitted | 16 comments (16 topical)