Phil Spector news stories on Newser

Writer Dominick Dunne Dead at 83

Will McCahill — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 19:08:01 CDT

Dominick Dunne, the best-selling author who covered some of the past two decades’ highest-profile trials for Vanity Fair , died today at 83; his son, actor Griffin Dunne, told the magazine bladder cancer was the cause. Dominick Dunne served in World War II and produced TV shows and feature films before...

Charles Manson Reaches Out to Spector in Prison

Mary Papenfuss — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 08:45:18 CDT

Charles Mason has reached out to former music producer Phil Spector, sending the actress-killer fan mail in the California prison they now share, reports the New York Post . Manson, a mediocre musician before he turned cult leader, sent Spector a note via a guard that he wanted to meet and...

Phil Spector, Unveiled

John Johnson — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 21:26:07 CDT

What a difference a wig—or lack of one—makes. California released the prison mug shot of Phil Spector today, revealing him to be a rather ordinary looking bald guy, the Daily News reports. The renowned music producer, always seen in public (and court) with a very full head of...

Wife Breaks Silence on Spector

Matt Cantor — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 16:02:35 CDT

She was muzzled by a court order during her husband’s trial, but now that Phil Spector has been convicted of murder, Rachelle Spector is free to talk to the media. The 28-year-old tells the Los Angeles Times she’s no trophy wife—“I don't take anything from my husband, and I...

Spector Sentenced to 19 Years to Life

M. Morris — Fri, 29 May 2009 13:59:51 CDT

A Los Angeles judge today sentenced Phil Spector to 19 years to life in prison in the 2003 shooting death of actress Lana Clarkson. The legendary music producer, whose first trial in the case ended in a mistrial, plans to appeal, KTLA-TV reports. Spector, 69, listened impassively as he drew...

Spector's Kid Seems as Crazy as Spector

Evann Gastaldo — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 09:11:42 CDT

Phil Spector’s son had as interesting an upbringing as one might imagine. In his memoir proposal, the Post reports, Louis Spector recalls a night involving “a bottle of wine, a Playboy magazine," and one of dad’s “lady” friends: “That night I lost my innocence, and my brother, at the age...

Jurors' Rapport Swung Spector Conviction: Lawyers

Rob Quinn — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 10:20:39 CDT

Twelve agreeable jurors made all the difference between Phil Spector's two murder trials, lawyers from both sides tell the Los Angeles Times . The jurors who this week voted unanimously to convict heard the same evidence as the jury that deadlocked in 2007, prosecutors and the music legend's lawyer say, but...

Spector Guilty of 2nd-Degree Murder

Neal Colgrass — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 16:44:41 CDT

A Los Angeles jury today convicted eccentric music producer Phil Spector of second-degree murder in the death of actress Lana Clarkson, the Los Angeles Times reports. Spector, 69, faces at least 18 years in prison for killing 40-year-old Clarkson, who was found with a gunshot wound to the mouth in...

Closing Arguments Begin in Spector Retrial

Matt Cantor — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 10:24:00 CDT

Attorneys begin closing arguments today in the second murder trial of music producer Phil Spector—proceedings which drew little attention after a media frenzy surrounding the first, which ended with a hung jury, the AP reports. Spector, 69, faces a second-degree charge in the 2003 death of actress Lana Clarkson,...