Blake lawyer to stay, despite interview
 |
Blake's interview is scheduled Monday.
Story Tools
|
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Robert Blake's third defense attorney said Saturday he would continue to represent the actor despite a TV interview scheduled against his advice.
Thomas Mesereau Jr. told CNN that Blake requested no attorneys be present for the jailhouse interview, scheduled Monday with ABC's Barbara Walters.
Blake has lost two attorneys because of his desire to do TV interviews. The first lawyer, Harland Braun, left after Blake agreed to talk to ABC's Diane Sawyer, an interview that never took place.
The second attorney, Jennifer Keller, left because Blake wished to grant an interview with Walters.
Blake is charged with murder in the May 4, 2001, fatal shooting of Bonny Lee Bakley, his wife of six months, outside a Studio City restaurant. He was arrested nearly a year later and has been held without bond since.
He has denied committing the crime.
Mesereau said he refused to send a letter to Sheriff Lee Baca endorsing the interview. Instead, one of Blake's business lawyers sent the letter.
After speaking with both Walters and Blake about the interview, Mesereau said Walters has assured him she would not ask any questions about the Bakley killing.
Blake also said he would not discuss the case in the interview, but would talk instead about his life in prison and send a message to his daughter, his child with Bakley.
The sheriff's department confirmed Baca gave his permission for the interview. A representative of ABC News could not be reached for comment Saturday night.
