Jury Selected in Blake Case; Trial Set Monday

An air-conditioning technician, retired librarian and postal worker were among those selected Wednesday to decide whether actor Robert Blake is guilty of killing his wife.

The seven-man, five-woman jury, with six alternates, was selected in a little more than two hours. The murder trial in the fatal shooting of Bonny Lee Bakley is set to begin Monday and expected to last several months.

Hundreds of people have been identified as potential witnesses by prosecution and defense attorneys, and dozens of media representatives have received credentials to cover the trial.

Jury selection began in October with the prescreening of more than 1,000 people. Most were excused because of the financial hardship posed by a long trial.

Those selected include a 24-year-old Filipina who reads Cosmopolitan, watches “Law & Order” on TV and enjoys shopping, and a 66-year-old retired machinist from Santa Clarita who has coached soccer.

The Los Angeles County Superior Court in Van Nuys draws jurors from the San Fernando Valley, which tends to be more conservative than jury pools in other parts of the city.

According to questionnaires completed by jurors, one admires Jesus Christ, Paul McCartney and President Bush, in that order, and dislikes Osama bin Laden, Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and the Rev. Al Sharpton.

Several said they own or have fired guns. Several said they have previously served on a jury or know someone connected to police work.

Under California law, courts are prohibited from identifying jurors before a trial concludes.

Asked whether they had any opinions of Blake, 71, best known for playing the title role in “Baretta” on TV, one juror described him as a “macho character.” Another said, “He’s gotten old.”

Blake faces life in prison if convicted of killing Bakley, 44, the night of May 4, 2001, while she sat alone in his parked car about 100 yards from a Studio City restaurant where they had just eaten.

Prosecutors say the actor asked two stuntmen to kill Bakley. Each refused and will be called to testify for the prosecution.

Blake told Los Angeles police he had left Bakley in the passenger seat of his car and returned to the restaurant to retrieve a handgun that he had left at their table. Blake said that when he got back, he found Bakley slumped in the seat, bleeding from a gunshot wound.

In another development, Los Angeles police said they were investigating a possible break-in and theft from a Sherman Oaks apartment owned by Blake’s lead attorney.

Between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. Wednesday, someone apparently forced open the front door, Officer Jason Lee said. “It was reported by the victim that some defense materials and a computer had been taken,” he said.

The lead attorney, M. Gerald Schwartzbach, could not be reached for comment.