Los Angeles- Robert Blake, the actor on trial for murder, said his wife was killed because she worked in the porn industry, a police officer testified at the trial yesterday.

Los Angeles police officer Sam Issa said Mr Blake, the star of In Cold Blood and the 1970s Baretta TV series, made the allegation while being interviewed after the shooting of Ms Bonny Lee Bakley in May 2001. “Mr Blake mentioned that his wife was in the illegal pornography business and they tried to kill her two years ago in Arkansas, so he carried a gun for protection,” Mr Issa said.

Mr Blake is currently on trial for the murder of his wife. He faces life imprisonment if found guilty.

The 71-year-old actor also told police that after he and his wife had dinner at a Los Angeles restaurant, they went back to their car, only to realise that he “forgot his little five-shooter handgun”. He went back to the restaurant to get it but when he returned Ms Bakley was slumped over and appeared to be sleeping. The 44-year-old-woman had been shot dead.

Mr Issa said Mr Blake was taken to a police station so that his hands could be tested for gunshot residue. The actor tested positive, but police recognised they could not rule out the possibility that the residue could have come from one of the actor’s other weapons, none of which were involved in the shooting.

Another police officer, Walter Grant, said the Baretta star was very emotional at the police station, that he kept drinking water and went to the bathroom at least four times. When officers tried to put him in a cell, he complained he was claustrophobic and then had what appeared to be a panic attack.

“He said he couldn’t breathe and that he needed an ambulance,” Mr Grant explained. “We opened the door. His appearance was very claustrophobic and panicked.”

Mr Blake denies killing his wife. The trial continues.