Actor Blake murder trial delayed

Robert Blake has pleaded not guilty to murder

The murder trial of actor Robert Blake, accused of killing his wife Bonny Lee Bakley, has been delayed for two weeks after his lawyer's computer was stolen.

The trial was due to begin in Los Angeles on Monday. But it has now been put back to 20 December.

The US star of 1970s police drama Baretta denies killing his wife, who was shot dead in his car in May 2001.

The 71-year-old star could face life imprisonment if convicted by the Los Angeles Superior Court.

The trial has been subject to repeated delays, partly because Mr Blake fired his lawyer twice.

Child actor

Mr Blake was arrested almost a year after his wife was found dead in a car outside a restaurant in California's Studio City.

Profile: Robert Blake

He was released on $1.5m (£810,000) bail on condition that the remained at home.

Mr Blake began his career as a child actor, taking on a series of roles throughout his teens and 20s.

In 1967, he was widely praised for his lead role in the movie version of Truman Capote's In Cold Blood.

Handyman charge

He went on to play tough-talking detective Tony Baretta, winning an Emmy for outstanding actor in a drama series.

He married second wife Bonnie Lee Bakley in November 2000, five months after the birth of their daughter Rose. Miss Bakley was 44 when she died.

Prosecutors also charged Mr Blake's handyman, Earle Caldwell, with conspiracy in the killing.

But after a preliminary hearing produced little evidence, charges against Mr Caldwell were dismissed.