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Sobbing Blake led out of court

By wire services
Published February 15, 2005

LOS ANGELES - Actor Robert Blake collapsed in sobs Monday when the prosecution closed its murder case against him by playing tapes in which he talked about his love for the daughter he had with slain wife Bonny Lee Bakley.

His body shaking, Blake was rushed from the courtroom by four attorneys. His sobs resonated from the hallway outside, until he regained composure and returned about three minutes later.

The defense was expected to begin presenting its case today. Blake, 71, is charged with shooting Bakley, 44, in 2001 as she sat in a car near a restaurant.

WASHINGTON - President Bush said Monday he will nominate Lester M. Crawford as head of the Food and Drug Administration. Crawford has been acting FDA commissioner for nearly a year.

Crawford's nomination, which must be confirmed by the Senate, comes as his agency is under pressure to make drugs safer and more affordable.

Crawford, 66, has a doctorate in pharmacology and has served as administrator of the Agriculture Department's Food Safety and Inspection Service.

McKINNEY, Texas - A mother who cut off her baby's arms was ruled mentally incompetent to stand trial for murder Monday.

The jury's verdict came after just minutes of deliberations in Dena Schlosser's competency trial. Both the prosecution and defense had requested that she not stand trial.

Attorneys expect the judge to commit Schlosser to a state hospital today. She could still stand trial if she is someday found competent.

Schlosser, 36, was charged with murder Nov. 22 after she told a 911 operator she had severed her 10-month-old daughter's arms. She was later diagnosed with manic depression.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A reporter and columnist for an African-American Kansas City newspaper accepted $1,500 from the congressional campaign of the Rev. Emanuel Cleaver, who was elected to the House in November.

Eric Wesson reported on the campaign for the Call and also wrote editorials that praised Cleaver and criticized his Democratic primary rival and later his Republican opponent.

Wesson told the Washington Post he wrote scripts for Cleaver's phone banks and did "other miscellaneous things" for the campaign. "It had nothing to do with the job I do for the Call, " he said.

Cleaver issued a statement Monday saying his campaign would not have other such arrangements with reporters.

[Last modified February 15, 2005, 01:17:05]