Da Brands Blake Jurors 'Incredibly Stupid'

The jurors who acquitted Robert Blake of murdering his wife have been branded "incredibly stupid" by Los Angeles County District Attorney STEVE COOLEY.

Last week (ends18MAR05), a jury found the former BARETTA star not guilty of the 2001 slaying of Bonny Lee Bakley, who was shot in a car outside a restaurant where the couple had dined.

But Cooley, whose office had attempted to jail the actor, rants, "Quite frankly, based on my review of the evidence, he is as guilty as sin. He is a miserable human being."

Blake's attorney, M GERALD SCHWARTZBACH, says the attack on the jurors is inappropriate and "small-minded".

Juror CHUCK SAFKO hits back, "To hear him say we aren't a smart jury is sour grapes. They didn't have a good case. Their case was built around witnesses who weren't truthful."

In celebrity cases, prosecutors have to get into the minds of jurors and understand how they think about stars, says Cooley.

Referring to his next celebrity trial, that of music producer Phil Spector on a murder charge, Cooley says prosecutors will have to make sure jurors know the real Spector.

He adds, "They think they know these celebrities. They think they know Robert Blake. They think they know Phil Spector."

Spector is accused of fatally shooting actress Lana Clarkson on 3 February 2003, in his Alhambra, California, mansion.