Blake's daughter wins custody fight

Blake has been in jail since April

US actor Robert Blake's daughter has won temporary custody of the child he had with the woman he is accused of killing.

Los Angeles superior court commissioner H. Ronald Hauptman granted Delinah Blake, who has been caring for her half-sister Rose Blake almost since she was born two years ago, guardianship pending a hearing on permanent custody in July.

The 35-year-old college psychology instructor has stood by her father as he faces trial for allegedly murdering Bonny Lee Bakley.

Mr Hauptman rejected requests by family members of the dead woman to have authorities "study" the girl's living conditions and limit the 68-year-old actor to one-hour visits with an armed bodyguard present.

Not guilty plea

Bonny Bakley was shot in her car in May 2001

Robert Blake - star of US TV show Baretta - has been held in custody since April on charges of murder, solicitation of murder, conspiracy and lying in wait to shoot his wife.

He denies all charges.

Ms Bakley was shot as she sat in her husband's car down the street from a restaurant they had just visited.

Mr Blake claims he went back to the restaurant to collect a gun he had left inside and returned to find his wife had been shot.

The 68-year-old has been refused bail by a judge despite an emotional courtroom plea.

Mr Blake's bodyguard Earle Caldwell, 46, has pleaded not guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit murder.

According to prosecutors there was an elaborate plan to kill Ms Bakley.

Mr Blake portrayed a tough cop in Baretta

Court papers revealed a list of 18 "overt acts" said to have been committed by the two men in plotting the murder.

Prosecutors claim that Mr Blake was unable to find a hit man to do the job and took matters into his own hands, which he denies.

Ms Bakley's four children are suing Mr Blake and Mr Caldwell for unspecified damages for allegedly wrongfully causing her death.