Los Angeles ? Actor Robert Blake, charged with murder in the shooting death of his wife, was denied bail Wednesday and will remain behind bars where he has been since April.

“There is proof of his guilt and the presumption is great, for bail purposes only,” Superior Court Judge Lloyd Nash said. “That does not mean I believe he committed this offense, or that I think he’s guilty.”

Nash said he would reconsider the bail request after a hearing Dec. 11 at which witnesses will testify.

Blake, 69, is accused of killing Bonny Bakley, 44, on May 4, 2001, outside a San Fernando Valley restaurant. He also faces charges of conspiracy, solicitation to murder and the special circumstance of lying in wait.

His attorneys deny Blake had any connection with the shooting and accused prosecutors of angling for a tactical advantage by attempting to keep him behind bars.

The former “Baretta” star entered the courtroom Wednesday smiling at his family, but he furrowed his brow as the judge’s decision was announced and later left with a sad expression on his face.