PROVIDES INSIGHT IN ROBERT BLAKE MURDER CASE

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She did the impossible when she got James Brown off the hook –

Could she do the same for Blake?

Here's what this savvy legal analyst has to say

 

With the glow of victory still burning bright, attorney to the stars, Debra Opri, is assuming an additional role: the media's hottest young legal analyst.

 

            Armed with an ingenious defense strategy, an exceptionally high IQ of 161, and an uncanny understanding of the public's perception of celebrities, she did the impossible: the silver-tongued attorney, who represented James Brown, successfully defended his case in the much-publicized sexual harassment lawsuit against the performer.

 

            "James Brown never won in court," says crack civil litigator Opri, on how high the odds were stacked against her client.  "He didn't want to go to trial; he was so certain he was going to lose. It's a very interesting thing, because no one expected this man to win.  No one."

 

            As a result of this remarkable upset, celebrity attorney Opri has fielded media requests for her perspective on other high profile celebrity cases. Robert Blake, Winona Ryder, Sharon Osbourne, Tommy Lee, and Jim Carey, to name a few.

 

            Opri believes that, "People pay attention to celebrities.  They give celebrities an added credential.  In many instances the celebrity may even be an obstacle.  That was a big issue in the James Brown case. "

 

            Regarding the Brown trial, Opri states, "It doesn't matter how many cases I have in my career, I will be most proud of the Brown case because it was labeled a loser from the start.  I was told regularly that there was no way we could win this case with the witnesses that the plaintiff had – but we did, because I used his celebrity."

Sure, Opri surprised herself, shocked the legal community and caught the media's attention, but with her impeccable vitae and confidence-instilling track record, getting Brown off the hook is right in line.  Opri received her law degree from Richard Nixon's alma mater, Whittier College in Southern California, made law review, and runs a successful Beverly Hills law firm, Opri & Associates, where she works extensively with film and television studios.  Opri used her natural entertainment affinity when a New York University undergraduate, carrying a heavy curriculum load consisting of a double major in drama and film-TV, and a triple minor in production, writing and business.

 

            With a rare combination of visual appeal, air-tight credibility and engaging eloquence, Opri is as polished and compelling in front of the camera as she is in front of the jury, and offers a balance of youthful sophistication with knowledge well beyond her years.  She is sought after for legal analysis and has appeared on Celebrity Justice, Inside Edition, Court TV, and has regular segments on local news stations such as Eyewitness News, KABC TV Los Angeles.

 

            After the magic she worked with Brown, she knows from whence she speaks with regard to the Robert Blake murder case.  "Unless there was an eye-witness who saw him pull the trigger, I don't see how his celebrity is going to fail him," she states authoritatively.  "People will give him the reasonable doubt if they can show that there are other people who wanted her dead – and there were a lot, we were told. "

 

            "With circumstantial evidence, as things start to unravel, is the registration numbers on the guns, and the eye-witnesses who claim that he was going to hire them to kill her," reasons Opri, who has experiences in criminal cases as well as civil ones.  "I don't think circumstantial evidence will ever be enough to convict a celebrity.

 

            "There are three main issues that will be dealt with in this case.  It will be a battle of the reputations [between Blake and Bakely], his celebrity, and taking advantage of the burden of proof beyond reasonable doubt.  Her reputation may create a great out for Robert Blake in terms of the reasonable doubt element," Opri strategizes.  "This will be the preeminent case on the burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt standard."

 

            She also cautions against the temptation to compare this to the O.J. Simpson case, pointing out, "These are different elements.  This is not a race issue, and it's not a gory crime; this is a premeditated murder execution style."

 

            As much as Opri would like to name-drop her star-studded client roster, she is bound by confidentiality agreements to keep mum.  Suffice it to say that she is well qualified to provide accurate and entertaining legal analysis to an audience looking for insight.