Blake’s bodyguard’s list of supplies argued in murder trial

Associated Press

LOS ANGELES — It is either a brutal catalog for committing murder or a log of harmless errands.

The list written by Robert Blake’s bodyguard has landed in the middle of the actor’s murder trial. It includes items like pool acid, Drano, duct tape, lye, shovels, a crowbar and old rugs.

Prosecutors have described the list as "a damning piece of evidence" in the plot to kill Blake’s wife, Bonny Lee Bakley. Lawyers for bodyguard Earle Caldwell, however, offered explanations for each item.

Attorney Arna Zlotnick told detectives the pool acid, Drano, duct tape and lye were intended for cleaning and repairing the pool at one of Blake’s homes.

The shovels were for digging post holes and a "small sledge" was for breaking up a doghouse with a sledgehammer, Zlotnick said. A crowbar on the list was for Caldwell’s personal use and the notation "old rugs" was a reminder to throw out some rugs, the detectives were told.

As for the notation "Get blank gun ready," Caldwell told police that Blake wanted to photograph his Black Hawk revolver with blank bullets in the gun.

Prosecutors said the items "are consistent with plans to kill" Bakley. The criminal complaint charging Caldwell with conspiracy alleges the bodyguard dug holes to dispose of a body.

Authorities said the list was found in Caldwell’s Jeep on June 19, 2001, along with a 9mm vintage German gun. Blake’s wife was killed with another vintage German gun on May 4, 2001.

Caldwell said at first he could not remember what he meant by the handwritten note "25 auto," according to the document, but later he said it was a reminder to change the oil in his Jeep.

Detective Ronald Ito, who interviewed Caldwell, said in an affidavit he believes the reference was to a .25-caliber automatic handgun allegedly shown to a witness who was solicited to kill Bakley.