Blake's Defence Claims Star Witness Fabricated Story

LATEST: Robert Blake's lawyer suggested yesterday (10FEB05) a leading witness in the actor's murder trial fabricated his story after reading newspaper reports about the killing of Blake's wife Bonny Lee Bakley.

Ex-stuntman RONALD 'DUFFY' HAMBLETON testified Wednesday (09FEB05) that the BARETTA star discussed numerous scenarios for killing Bakley and considered asking his handyman EARLE CALDWELL to bury the body.

But the 71-year-old's defense attorney M GERALD SCHWARTZBACH pointed out that Hambleton didn't know Caldwell's name until he read it in the tabloids, and he couldn't remember the words Blake used when asking him to murder Bakley - who was shot dead on 4 May, 2001 outside Vitello's restaurant in Studio City, California.

Schwartzbach asked, "So you could not recall the exact words that Mr Blake used?"

Hambleton replied, "I couldn't recall because he used many different adjectives for how he wanted her taken care of, that is correct."

The trial continues.