Brando warned actor's wife

Christian Brando is the son of actor Marlon

Lawyers for actor Robert Blake, who is awaiting trial for the murder of his wife, have released a tape of a phone call made by Marlon Brando's son.

The lawyers say the phone call between Christian Brando and Blake's wife, Bonny Lee Bakley, is evidence of Ms Bakley's ability to provoke people.

Bonny Lee Bakley had a relationship with Brando

Mr Brando, with whom Ms Bakley had a relationship before marrying Mr Blake, is heard saying: "You're lucky somebody ain't out there to put a bullet in your head."

Ms Bakley, 44, was shot on 4 May 2001 while sitting in a car outside a restaurant where she and Blake had been dining.

Confirmed

Mr Blake, who is best known for his Emmy-award winning role in the TV cop series Barretta, was arrested and charged with her murder on 18 April this year.

He had married Ms Bakley after fathering a daughter, Rosie, with her. She initially claimed the child was either his or Mr Brando's, but Mr Blake was confirmed as the father following tests.

Mr Blake's lawyer, Harland Braun, says many people had the motive to kill Ms Bakley, and police did not fully investigate Brando - but police and prosecutors have rejected his claims.

"We resolved any issues relating to other suspects, including Christian Brando," said a police spokesman.

Mr Brando was imprisoned 1990 after pleading guilty to the involuntary manslaughter of his half-sister's boyfriend.

'No intention'

The tape of the phone call, thought to have been made around six months before the murder, was turned over to the Blake defence along with 120 other phone call tapes found among Ms Bakley's belongings.

During the conversation, Mr Brando denies being the father of Ms Bakley's baby and made it clear he had no intention of shooting her.

However, he warned her that some aspects of her behaviour - particularly soliciting money from men - might have violent consequences.

Mr Blake, who has had three applications for bail refused since his arrest, faces life in prison if he is convicted of the murder.