The Murder Conviction of Phil Spector is Upheld

Harvey Phillip Spector, a former songwriter, and music producer was convicted of 2nd degree murder of Lana Clarkson, an actress, in the foyer of his mansion in 2003. Spector is the pioneer of that 60’s girl group type sound, he originated the producing technique, the sound wall; and got more than 25 top 40 hits in only five years. He even produced one of The Beatles biggest albums, Let It Be!


Clarkson was slaughtered by a gunshot to the mouth in Spector’s suburban home in California, February 3rd, 2003. Spector states that Clarkson's death was an "accidental suicide" and that she "kissed the gun." Adriano De Souza, Spector's driver made an emergency call from the mansion after hearing him say, quote “I think I’ve killed someone.” Some women who were said to have met with Spector say there would come a point when they wanted to leave Spector's home, whereupon he would hold them at gunpoint. ‘The prosecution argued that the testimony of the other women was important in order to demonstrate a "common plan or scheme". The defense sought to prevent the women from providing such testimony. Though the law in California and other states generally forbids the introduction of evidence showing a defendant's previous bad acts, the judge sided with the prosecutors and ruled that the testimony of the other women "can be used to show lack of accident or mistake".’ But just remotely before the murder, Spector told Britain’s Daily Telegraph that he has bipolar disorder and that he considers himself insane.


A brief description of what happened inside the courtroom, from


Phil Spector - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:


First Trial


Spector remained free on $1 million bail while awaiting trial.


The trial began on March 19, 2007. Presiding judge Larry Paul Fidler allowed the trial to be televised. At the start of the trial, the defense's forensic expert Henry Lee was accused of hiding crucial evidence which the District Attorney's office claimed could prove Spector's guilt. On September 26, 2007, Judge Fidler declared a mistrial because of a hung jury (10 to 2 for conviction).


During the trial, defense expert Dr. Vincent DiMaio asserted that Spector may be suffering from Parkinson's disease. He testified, "Look at Mr. Spector. He has Parkinson's features. He trembles."


Second Trial


The retrial of Spector for murder in the second degree began on October 20, 2008, with Judge Fidler again presiding; this time it was not televised. The case went to the jury on March 26, 2009, and nineteen days later, on April 13, the jury returned a guilty verdict. In addition, he was found guilty of using a firearm in the commission of a crime. Spector was immediately taken into custody and was formally sentenced on May 29, 2009, to 19 years to life in the California state prison system. Spector will be 88 years old before becoming eligible for parole. Spector is currently serving his sentence at the California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison (SATF) in Corcoran, California. Although it is in Corcoran, it is a separate facility from California State Prison, Corcoran, where, among others, Charles Manson is serving his life sentences