Spector Guilty Of Murdering Lana Clarkson
Tuesday, April 14 08:22 am
Sky News
Music producer Phil Spector has been convicted of murdering actress Lana Clarkson, following his retrial. The 40-year-old died of a gunshot fired into her mouth while she was sitting in the foyer of Spector's hill-top mansion in 2003.
The jury in the retrial at Los Angeles Superior Court was unanimous in its verdict of second degree murder, as required by Californian law.
In Spector's first trial, jurors deadlocked 10-2 with the majority favouring conviction.
Spector's young wife, Rachelle, sobbed as the decision was announced.
Ms Clarkson, 40, had starred in the 1985 cult film Barbarian Queen. She met Spector, only hours before her death, while working as a nightclub hostess.
Prosecutors argued Spector had a history of threatening women with guns when they tried to leave his presence.
The defence claimed she killed herself.
After the verdict was returned, Judge Larry Paul Fidler decided to remand Spector in custody and set a sentencing date for May 29.
The judge said: "In Mr Spector's favour is the fact he has made all his appearances throughout the two trials."
But he said his conviction and history of violence weighed against that, adding: "Public protection and public safety are paramount."
Ms Clarkson's family thanked the jurors and prosecutors, and accused Spector's defence team of "trashing" the victim.
"We are pleased that the jury has rejected the distortion and trashing of Lana Clarkson's life by the defence in this trial, the last trial and the past six plus years," the family said in a statement.
"There is no joy today. This is tragic, but actions have consequences."
The Clarkson family will now pursue a civil trial against Spector, which could see them awarded tens of millions of dollars in damages if successful.
Prosecutor Alan Jackson painted a picture of Spector as a gun-crazed eccentric with a "history of violence" toward women who tried to leave him.
Five female acquaintances testified that Spector had threatened them at gunpoint in incidents dating back to the 1970s.
In his closing argument last month, Mr Jackson said Spector had repeatedly pulled guns on women who wouldn't go to bed with him.
He told jurors: "February 3, 2003, Lana Clarkson - a woman, alcohol, a loss of control - and Phillip reaches for a gun. Pow! Lana Clarkson got the bullet. It's as simple as that."
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/5/20090414/r_t_skynews_wl/twl-spector-guilty-of-murdering-lana-cla-3fd0ae9_2.html?printer=1
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