Phil Spector convicted of murder

[Mickey Massuco]

Phil Spector convicted of murder


US music producer Phil Spector has been convicted of murdering actress Lana Clarkson at his home six years ago.

The 68-year-old, famous for the "Wall of Sound" recording technique, faces between 15 years and life in prison.

He had pleaded not guilty to the second degree murder of 40-year-old Ms Clarkson, who was shot in the mouth at Spector's home in Los Angeles.

Spector remained quiet as the verdict was read out. He was remanded in custody until sentencing on 29 May.

His young wife Rachelle sobbed as the verdict was announced.

Spector had looked frail as he entered the courtroom earlier, dressed in a black suit with a bright red tie.

His trial, at the city's Superior Court, had lasted five months and saw 77 witnesses take the stand.

The jury took some 30 hours of deliberation to reach their unanimous guilty verdict.

An earlier trial was abandoned in 2007 after a jury failed to reach a unanimous decision.

Second degree murder falls between first degree murder, which requires proof of pre-meditation, and manslaughter.

Stun gun

Actress Clarkson, 40, had been working as a hostess at the House of Blues venue in Los Angeles, and went home with Spector on the night of her death.

After appearing in cult 1980s films such as Barbarian Queen and Fast Times at Ridgemont High, her acting career had hit the rocks.

Spector had arrived at the club with waitress Kathy Sullivan, before setting his sights on Ms Clarkson.

Spector's Brazilian chauffeur, Adriano De Souza, said his boss appeared to be intoxicated and that Ms Clarkson was initially reluctant to go home with the music producer.

She was found dead in the foyer of his house in the early hours of the morning.

A holster that matched the snub-nosed Cold Cobra revolver that Spector used to kill her was found in a drawer in the foyer.

Mr De Souza called the emergency services, saying: "I think my boss killed somebody", after Spector emerged from his home with a gun.

He told jurors Spector had said: "I think I killed somebody."

The producer was taken into custody about 40 minutes after the shooting and had to be subdued by officers using a stun gun.

The trial also heard from a number of women who said Spector had threatened them with guns in the past.

Defence lawyers had argued that Ms Clarkson's death was a suicide.

Spector himself decided not to give evidence.

The two sides in the trial closed their cases on 7 September.

The prosecution, speaking last, offered a dramatic animated video purporting to recreate the shooting, showing Spector within inches of Ms Clarkson's mouth.

Prolific career

"These are not evidence," prosecutor Pat Dixon said of the animations. "They are our view of what happened."

Spector's lawyer closed her case by asking jurors not to become "vigilantes", appealing to them not to judge the star on his eccentric appearance, or by stories of women who dated him.

The jury began their deliberations on 11 September, but returned to court after a week to say they were split over the verdict.

Superior Court Judge Larry Paul Fidler ruled they would not be allowed to consider a lesser charge of manslaughter after hearing arguments from lawyers on both sides of the case.

Spector worked with some of the biggest names in the pop and rock business, including The Beatles and Ike and Tina Turner.

He produced hits including You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' by the Righteous Brothers and the Ronettes' Be My Baby.

 

[Czech]

Convicted of ruining Let It Be/

 

[Gary]

 

[still fly]

After 6 years, this decision was pretty anti-climatic. Not a good time to be a convict celeb after OJ.

 

[Incandenza]

Well, he led a full life.

 

[Sesquipedaliantique]

Didn't he point guns at both Leonard Cohen and the Ramones before? Not that I hold the Ramones against him.

 

[Incandenza]

What kind of stupid remark is that?

 

[Steviekick]

It was pretty stupid.

Supposedly Phil pointed a shotgun at Dee Dee after he said he wanted to go home during the End of the Century sessions.

 

[Incandenza]

Oh, I'm familiar w/ both the Ramones and Cohen stories, but I won't stand for derision toward the Ramones.

 

[Slayer]

Gabba gabba hey gabba hey gabba you're dead

 

[Steviekick]

Gabba gabba hey gabba hey gabba you're dead

This would be an awesome SOD song.

 

[Slayer]

It was, actually (The Ballad of Joey Ramone)

They did a lot of ballads at their concerts that are available in bootleg form

 

[Just Burny]

 

[Dobbs3K]

Yeah, supposedly he tried to convince Joey to dump the rest of the band and go solo, while the rest of the band waited in his living room. Then Dee Dee was like, "Screw this I'm leaving", so Spector pulled a gun out and told him to sit down.

 

[CookieMueller]

I'm a big fan of Spector pop. It's so disappointing that someone so talented has to be such a weird motherfucker.