Can someone bring me up to speed on the Robert Blake case? As I recall, he was initially arrested, and spent several months in jail before being released on bail. Now he’s been out of jail for many months, but was only just recently actually indicted for murder. I’m curious as to the legal technicalities of the case. If he’s only now been indicted, then on what basis was he being detained before? And does the indictment materially alter the situation as regards bail? It seems to me he might be a good candidate for being released on his own recognizance, since he was already out for many months and made no attempt to flee.
And what kind of evidence could the detectives find, after all this time, that could bring about an indictment when they couldn’t get an indictment, or a police complaint (“information”) before?
Blake was initially denied bail at preliminary hearings (2002). He was granted bail (semi- house arrest, surrendered passport) at the arraignment (2003). A lot of time went by while he changed lawyers, postponed depositions, filed motions, etc.
Part of the reason for the delay is that Blake has apparently hired (and fired) some of the finest attorneys possible. Tom Mesereau, Jr. was one of the last ones–he’s now head of the Michael Jackson defense team.
Mesereau is surely one of the most well prepared individuals on the planet. About a year ago when the judge asked him if he could prepare a potential list of witnesses he might call, so the court could check any possible conflicts with individuals in the jury pool, Mesereau replied he was ready that moment opened his briefcase and revealed a thick document he said included the names, addresses etc. The judge nearly fainted when Mesereau said there were some exact number I don’t recall. 700 or something like that.
I believe you are conflating the Blake and Phil Spector cases. I’ve not heard of Blake being indicted, and as a matter of fact, that case is well past the point of an indictment being useful. Spector was indicted so that the prosecutors could avoid a preliminary hearing.