Blake's Days in Court

Robert Blake's daughter, Delinah Blake; his niece, Noreen Austin, and his son, Noah Blake, leave a courthouse, June 27, 2002, in Los Angeles, after attending a hearing held for Robert Blake, who had been jailed since his April 18, 2002, arrest on charges of murdering his wife, Bonny Lee Bakley, who was found shot to death in their car on May 4, 2001.

Blake appeared to be in some discomfort during a court appearance to set a date for a preliminary hearing Dec. 6, 2002. Blake's lawyers said he was in need of dental treatment and the judge approved his transfer from Men's Central Jail to a clinic at Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center where his dentist could work on him. Blake's lawyer, Thomas Mesereau Jr., is at left.

Former Hollywood stuntman Gary McLarty, right, points to the residence behind Robert Blake's Studio City home, where Bonny Lee Bakley stayed, during questioning by Deputy District Attorney Patrick R. Dixon, left, on the second day of Blake's preliminary hearing Feb. 27, 2003, at the Van Nuys Courthouse in Los Angeles.

Ronald "Duffy" Hambleton, a retired Hollywood stuntman and private investigator, is sworn in at Blake's preliminary hearing Feb. 28, 2003. Testimony was heard in order to determine whether Blake would stand trial on charges of murdering wife Bonny Lee Bakley on May 4, 2001, and whether Blake handyman-bodyguard Earle Caldwell would be tried for conspiracy.

Blake listens to the cross examination of witness Ronald "Duffy" Hambleton, a retired stuntman, during a preliminary hearing in Los Angeles, March 3, 2003. Hambleton claimed Blake once asked him about having his wife "snuffed," but conceded he told police he didn't know who might have killed the actor's wife.

Blake gestures towards the camera as he enters the courtroom March 13, 2003. That day, Superior Court Judge Lloyd Nash ruled that Blake must stand trial on charges of murdering his wife, saying the actor "had the time, the opportunity and the motive to commit the shooting." He also said Blake could be released on $1.5 million bail.

Defense attorney Mesereau, left, speaks with Blake following his closing arguments in Blake's preliminary hearing March 13, 2003, at the Van Nuys courthouse in Los Angeles.

Defense attorney Mesereau makes his closing argument in Blake's preliminary hearing March 13, 2003.

Escorted by sheriff's deputies, Blake talks with reporters as his attorney, right, looks on, after Blake was released from jail in downtown Los Angeles March 14, 2003. Blake posted $1.5 million bail and was released to await trial on charges of murdering his wife.

Blake, left, embraces his former bodyguard, Earle Caldwell, after entering an innocent plea at his arraignment March 27, 2003.

Blake speaks to media after his arrives at Los Angeles Superior Court July 10, 2003, for a hearing in the murder of his wife.

Blake looks on Oct. 31, 2003, as his attorney pleads for dismissal of charges. The judge in Blake's murder case dismissed the lone conspiracy charge against his handyman, Earle Caldwell, saying there was nothing more than speculative evidence that he was involved in the slaying of the actor's wife.

Caldwell looks at prosecutor Shellie Samuels as she argues against dismissing charges against him in Los Angeles County Superior Court Oct. 31, 2003.

Caldwell reacts as Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Darlene Schempp dismissed the lone conspiracy charge against him Oct. 31, 2003, in Van Nuys, Calif. Judge Schempp said there was nothing more than speculative evidence that Caldwell, handyman to actor Blake, was involved in the slaying of the actor's wife.

Blake confers with attorney Mesereau just before Judge Darlene Schempp dismissed conspiracy charges against his handyman Earle Caldwell. The judge allowed the murder charge to stand against Blake, who was ordered to trial on Feb. 9, 2004, on charges of murdering Bonny Lee Bakley, 44.

Robert Blake sings "Over the Rainbow," using a borrowed guitar, outside Los Angeles Superior Court after a hearing Feb 2, 2004.

Blake's attorney Thomas Mesereau Jr. in Los Angeles Superior Court during a hearing Feb. 3, 2004. Blake's murder trial was postponed indefinitely Feb. 5 after the judge agreed to remove Mesereau as Blake's attorney because of "irreconcilable differences."

Blake, at microphones, speaks to reporters outside a Los Angeles courthouse, after a hearing in his case, Feb. 5, 2004.