Actor Robert Blake Depressed in LA Jail

Yahoo.com ^ | December 27, 2002 | staff

[Nonstatist]

Actor Robert Blake ( news), in jail awaiting trial on charges that he murdered his wife, worries that this may be his last Christmas on Earth, according to a television report broadcast on Thursday. Local Los Angeles station CBS2, the west coast flagship of the CBS network, said that Blake's attitudes toward life appear to have deteriorated along with his physical condition.

"This is the fourth time I have interviewed Robert Blake, the second time in jail, and definitely there is a change," said reporter Paul Dandridge, who added that the actor, now 69, is "not sure as to how much more he can last."

Dandridge said the only human contact Blake has is a once-a-week handshake from a priest who visits the actor in his jail cell.

Dandridge said Blake, the star of the television series "Baretta," told him he wondered if "this would be his last Christmas on Earth."

Blake, who is accused of shooting his wife Bonnie Lee Bakley to death while she sat in a car in May 2001, is scheduled to answer questions under oath on Jan. 15 in connection with a wrongful death lawsuit Bakley's children filed.

A preliminary hearing in the criminal case against him is set for Feb. 26.

[Nonstatist]

Maybe he shouldn't have killed his wife.

[SevenofNine]

Hey I saw that interview on local CBS station Baretta doesn't look well

I think he going meet up with his Our Gangs co star you know Mickey Spanky Darla

[Dog Gone]

Something would be wrong if a jail was a happy place.

[Destructor]

I'm sure jail is hard on a little man like him!

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

This may be his last Christmas, but his wife's last Christmas was two years ago.

[capt. norm]

The biggest blow to Blake is the worst thing that can happen to a Hollywood type. Being ignored.

I think he was hoping for an O.J. type thing where he could revive his career through all the publicity from the wall-to-wall coverage. Then Johnny Cochran gets him aquitted and he lives happily ever after.

But the publicity came and went like the flash of a camera strobe and without publicity, you don't get Cochran and you don't get fame.

[OldFriend]

How many more Christmas's on earth for Bonnie Bakley?

[2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten]

What? Not enough HBO, weight-rooms and conjugal visits? What is going on here?

[oyez]

It would have been cheaper to keep her.

[Dutch Boy]

Take it easy on the guy. After all, he is a widower and his wife was murdered by...... mmmmmm, never mind......

[babygene]

"Dandridge said the only human contact Blake has is a once-a-week handshake from a priest who visits the actor in his jail cell."

From everything I've heard about this case; He's guilty.

However, bail (or even denying bail to a person before a trial) is done not to punish the not-yet-convicted suspect, but to assure their appearance before the court.

With that in mind, perhaps the pre-trial incarceration conditions are a little harsh. In Blake’s case he’s probably going to be convicted anyway. In many cases though, the defendant is not guilty and acquitted in the next phase.

This works out OK for the guilty, because the judge usually gives them credit for time served. For the innocent however, they get no credit for the time spent behind bars with their lives, jobs and families disrupted.

Seems like we could have a more equitable system.

[Destructor]

"What? Not enough HBO, weight-rooms and conjugal visits? What is going on here?"

Mr. Blake is doing a new role now- pen country girl!

[babygene]

Pre-trial perps do not get these perks. The county jail is where people stay before conviction. It's only those who are convicted and found guily that get these bennys.

[lady lawyer]

Oh boo hoo.

[2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten]

I see your point. So purgatory is not as well appointed as h3ll? Well let's have a trial and then a hanging!

[2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten]

You're right, he probably has no trouble getting dates, he's probably a very popular guy on his cell block. Ah, the lifestyles of the rich and famous!

[martin_fierro]

"Don't do the crime if you can't do the time."

And that's the name of THAT tune.

[chnsmok]

http://pajis.lasd.org/details.cfm?BNA_BOOKING_NO=7253166

[BradyLS]

You mean innocence before proven guilt is WORSE??? In America? Say it isn't so! < /sarcasm off>