Legal row over Blake detective

Blake has been in jail since April

Prosecutors are trying to stop US actor Robert Blake's lawyers re-hiring a private detective due to testify in his murder trial.

Blake, best known for playing the title role in the 1970s TV police drama Baretta, is charged with the murder of his wife, 44-year-old Bonny Lee Bakley.

She was shot as she sat in Blake's car near a restaurant where they had just eaten.

Financial arrangements with witnesses... have the glaring potential for corruption

Prosecutors' motion

Prosecutors filed papers at court on Wednesday arguing the employment of investigator William Jordan, who worked for Blake two years ago, has a "glaring potential for corruption".

According to a police affidavit, 68-year-old Blake hired Jordan in September 2000, as he was expecting child custody proceedings.

Last Friday, he joined the defence team, the document said.

According to phone records submitted by prosecutors, Blake spoke with Jordan frequently up to the time of Bakley's murder.

Public's faith

But as Blake's employee, prosecutors maintained, Jordan would feel inhibited in informing police about anything he has not revealed already.

"The defence team's financial arrangements with witnesses and parties have the glaring potential for corruption - enough is enough," their motion said.

"In order to protect the people's right to a fair trial and maintain the public's faith in a judicial system that should operate the same way for every defendant, no matter how wealthy.

"This court must take aggressive steps to keep defendant Blake and his attorney from interfering with the people's witnesses."

Defence lawyer Harland Braun acknowledged he hired Jordan but denies there is a problem because Jordan worked for Blake long before the police were involved in the case.

Lawyers' checks

"I find it astounding," Braun said of the motion.

"As far as I'm concerned, the district attorney doesn't tell us who we're going to hire as lawyers or investigators.

"They should run their case and we'll run ours."

He said Jordan checked with his lawyer and with police before agreeing to work for Braun.

"They weren't happy, but there's nothing they can do about it," Braun said.

Blake also faces two counts of soliciting her murder, conspiracy and the special circumstance of lying in wait.