Robert Blake's attorney resigns, complains of actor's TV interviews

<br>LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Harland Braun, the lawyer who has represented Robert Blake since his wife was shot to death last year, announced his resignation Monday, saying he objected to the actor's decision

Monday, October 28th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Harland Braun, the lawyer who has represented Robert Blake since his wife was shot to death last year, announced his resignation Monday, saying he objected to the actor's decision to grant a jailhouse interview to ABC.

Braun said he had met with Blake and expressed his opposition to an interview with Diane Sawyer.

``He insists on doing an interview on camera with Diane Sawyer,'' Braun said. ``I think it's insane for a person charged with a crime to go on camera to answer questions about the case. No lawyer in the country would allow a defendant to do this.''

It is up to the judge presiding over the Blake case to decide whether to let Braun resign.

Braun said the ABC interview was set for Friday. However, the Sheriff's Department said Monday that it has rejected ABC's request for an on-camera interview because it would be too disruptive.

Blake is charged with murdering his wife, Bonny Lee Bakley, last year outside a restaurant where they had dined. A preliminary hearing is set for Dec. 11.

He said the greatest danger of such an interview is that something Blake might say could be taken out of context.