Actor Robert Blake testifies in wrongful death lawsuit

BURBANK, Calif. -- Six months after being acquitted of murder, actor Robert Blake took the stand Thursday in a wrongful death lawsuit and denied lying about what happened the night his wife was shot to death.

During colorful, sometimes contentious exchanges with the judge and the attorney representing Bonny Lee Bakley's family, Blake acknowledged he may have given different versions of what happened on the night Bakley died. But he said that was because he is "a human being, not a machine" and had simply erred.

The star of the old "Baretta" TV show said he's dyslexic, cannot read documents and cited his age several times as a reason for his shifting memory.

"I'm 72 years old," the actor said repeatedly until Superior Court Judge David Schacter interrupted and said, "We already know that."

Through most of the questioning by attorney Eric Dubin, who represents Bakley's family, the judge allowed Blake free rein.

The actor frequently interjected his own objections to questions, some of which were sustained by the judge.

Blake's remarks prompted his attorney, Peter Ezzell, to protest that he was not being allowed to do his job. The judge said he wished he could do his job as well as Blake and at one point suggested getting a black judge's robe for the actor.

The jurors smiled at such exchanges.

Bakley's children are suing Blake, saying he was responsible for their mother's May 2001 death. Bakley, 44, was killed as she sat in Blake's car outside a restaurant where they had just had dinner.

When Dubin accused Blake of telling lies to the police, the actor snapped, "Says who? Says who?"

"The majority of information I gave police was about my wife and her family, which is what they wanted," Blake said as Bakley's two adult children, Holly and Glenn Gawron, sat at the counsel table facing him.

He said he told police Bakley's relatives "were felons and low-lifes."

Most of Thursday's questioning focused on the daughter Blake had with Bakley, 5-year-old Rosie, who is one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit. The girl is being raised by Blake's adult daughter, Delinah.

Testimony involved whether Rosie was neglected by her mother before Blake gained custody of her.

"When you received Rosie, did you say, 'It's now you and me, kid?"' Dubin asked.

Blake paused and said, "I'd like to say that I said that because it sounds lovely. But I have no recollection that I said that."

He acknowledged he had a written agreement to marry Bakley after a DNA test showed the child was his.

"I came to the conclusion that the very best thing for Rosie, from the time she was 2 weeks old, was for us to get married," Blake said.

Dubin's questions ranged over a number of topics, including the character of Blake's co-defendant and former handyman Earle Caldwell, who was initially part of the criminal case before charges against him were dropped.

"Would you say Caldwell, who was your handyman, had a hobby of murder?" Dubin asked.

"No," Blake shouted, "and whoever said that I will say they are rotten, foul liars to the core."

Dubin, who is conducting a methodical review of depositions Blake has given previously in the case, said he expects the actor's testimony will continue at least until the end of next week.