Blake's Defense Aims at Brando

Christian Brando has become the new suspect in the highly publicized murder of Bonny Lee Bakely, wife of the accused Robert Blake. Blake's attorney, Thomas Mesereau Jr., brought the son of famed actor Marlon Brando to a court hearing on Tuesday calling him a "fugitive of justice."

Brando had apparently fled the scene and had a warrant out for his arrest. He is currently wanted for a probation violation in Washington. "We think there's a compelling case far stronger that Brando did it, than that Mr. Blake did it," Mesereau said.

Brando's involvement in the case has been a subject of speculation for quite sometime because of his past romantic involvement with Bakely. Shortly following their split, Blake and Bakely hooked up and she gave birth to a baby girl. While she first claimed the baby to be Brando's, a DNA test, demanded by Blake, proved that Blake was the true father.

Tuesday's major topic focused around a phone conversation Brando had in which a female acquaintance named, Diane Mattson, overheard Brando saying that Bakely deserved to have a bullet put through her head. Judge Schempp is not allowing testimony by Mattson because she has a "credibility issue" with the court. However, Schempp is allowing Mesereau to question a former stuntman about the alleged phone call between himself and Brando.

Much of the recent accusations come at a crucial time as the jury selection is expected to enter its final phase on February 17th. Blake, 70, is charged with shooting his wife, Bakely, 44, to death as she sat in her car outside Vitello's Italian restaurant in Studio City where the two had just dined on May 4, 2001. Blake starred in TV's popular police detective show, Baretta, for many years and the news of his accusation was understandably shocking. Blake told authorities that he left Bakely alone in the car to retrieve a gun he left behind in the restaurant. He apparently carried the gun for protection and accidentally forgot it. When he returned, he found his wife mortally wounded.

The judge has scheduled more of the hearing to occur this Thursday in order to clear up further issues.