Tuesday 14 April 2009

Spector guilty of murder




MUSIC legend Phil Spector was found guilty yesterday of murdering actress Lana Clarkson.
It took a jury 31 hours to convict Spector, 69, of shooting the B-movie star at his mansion near Los Angeles.

The 1960s “wall of sound” pop producer — described in court as a “demonic maniac” — stood silently as the verdict was read out.

Deputy District Attorney Alan Jackson said Spector — who was remanded in custody until May 29 — faced a minimum of 18 years in jail.

It was the second time Spector had been tried for Lana’s murder.

A first trial in 2007 ended with the jury deadlocked.

Last night her pal Edward Lozzi said: “A crazy psychopath is off the streets.”

Sci-fi actress Lana, 40 — who was also a bar hostess — was shot in the mouth hours after she met Spector at a nightclub. He had invited her home for a midnight drink.

The jury heard Spector had played Russian roulette with women in the past.

He also pulled guns on those who would not go to bed with him, especially while drunk.

Mr Jackson said: “February 3rd, 2003: Lana Clarkson — a woman, alcohol, a loss of control — and Phillip reaches for the gun. Pow! Lana got the bullet. It’s as simple as that.”

Prosecutor Truc Doalso called Spector “a very dangerous man” who had played Russian roulette with five women before Lana.

He said: “Six women. Lana just happened to be the sixth.”

Spector pioneered the 1960s girl group sound and wrote The Righteous Brothers hit You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling.

He worked with stars including John Lennon and Tina Turner.

He refused to testify at either trial. Yesterday, he spoke only to whisper “yes” in agreement to the date of sentence.

Both trials heard his driver claim that Spector had emerged from the house brandishing a gun, saying: “I think I killed someone.”

But Spector’s lawyers insisted Lana — who starred in the 1985 movie Barbarian Queen — accidentally committed suicide.

In a magazine interview, Spector said she “kissed the gun” before pulling the trigger herself.

Yesterday’s jury had the option of an involuntary manslaughter verdict. But they convicted him of second degree murder.

Defence lawyer Doron Weinberg said his team had “every intention” of appealing.

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