Prosecutors Oppose Robert Blake's P.I.

By Stephen M. Silverman

05/16/2002 at 09:45 AM EDT

Hoping to head off a possible conflict of interest, prosecutors fingering Robert Blake in the May 4, 2001, murder of Blake's wife, Bonny Lee Bakley, are trying to prevent Blake's attorney, Harland Braun, from employing a private investigator they hope to have testify against the actor, reports the Associated Press. Having the P.I., William C. Jordan, on Blake's payroll has a "glaring potential for corruption," prosecutors stated in documents papers filed Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court. Blake, 68, who is currently being held without bail, is charged with murder, two counts of soliciting murder, conspiracy and the special circumstance of lying in wait. That last charge could carry the death penalty. According to a police affidavit, the ex-"Baretta" star employed Jordan starting in September 2000, in anticipation of child custody proceedings. On Friday, Jordan joined the defense team, said the document, which insists that as Blake's employee, Jordan would feel inhibited when it comes to speaking to police. "Enough is enough," prosecutors say in their motion, the AP reports. "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 mater how wealthy, this court must take aggressive steps to keep defendant Blake and his attorney from interfering with the people's witnesses." Braun confirmed to the AP that he had hired Jordan but said he sees no potential for conflict of interest because, he said, Jordan went to work for Blake well before law authorities became involved in the case.