Court Guns for Less of Robert Blake's Money

Appellate panel reduces $30 million wrongful-death judgment by half, calling original amount "excessive"; judges refuse to grant new trial

Robert Blake still has to pay. But not quite as much.

Deeming the number "excessive," a state appellate court has halved the $30 million civil judgment handed down against Blake in 2005, stemming from the 2001shooting death of his wife of six months, Bonny Lee Bakley.

The Baretta star's attorneys have been trying to get the wrongful-death verdict tossed for two years, with Blake maintaining that he's broke and his legal camp alleging jury misconduct, but the Superior Court judge wouldn't budge.

The three-judge appellate panel also refused to order a new trial, but ruled that Bakley's family has to approve the $15 million reduction, or else the case will be sent back to L.A. Superior Court to be retried.

Blake was acquitted March 16, 2005, of murder and other charges stemming from Bakley's death outside an Italian restaurant in Studio City. A civil jury decided against him, however, later that year.