Actor Blake appeals death verdict

Robert Blake's wife was shot after they dined at a restaurant

Actor Robert Blake is appealing against a wrongful death verdict over the shooting of his wife, and its award of $30m (£15.3m) damages to her family.

A lawyer for the star of 1970s series Baretta says the verdict was the result of jury misconduct and prejudice.

Mr Blake was cleared of the murder of Bonny Lee Bakley by a criminal court, but found responsible for the death in a civil case brought by her family.

Ms Bakley was shot dead in 2001 outside a Los Angeles restaurant.

The appeal claims that one juror failed to disclose that her daughter was in prison for murder, while another consulted a Bible during deliberations.

'Gargantuan award'

It also says that a juror who had a hearing impairment and said he missed most of the testimony was pressurised into voting for Blake's liability.

The jury also imposed a "gargantuan award" of compensatory damages "to 'send a message' that celebrities and rich people cannot get away with murder", it argues.

In response, Eric Dubin, lawyer for the victim's family, said: "These identical issues were looked at by the trial judge and denied in their entirety."

A judge last year rejected Blake's request for a new civil trial.

The actor has filed for bankruptcy, but Mr Dubin said he believed the Bakley family would eventually collect some of the $30m award.

Mr Blake has always denied any role in his wife's death.