Lana Clarkson news stories on Newser

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...

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...

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,...

Spector Still Wants His $1M Back

Matt Cantor — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 16:03:00 CST

As the state of California cranks up a second murder trial for Phil Spector, the producer is suing his first attorney for the $1-million non-refundable retainer he paid after his 2003 arrest in the death of actress Lana Clarkson. Spector claims that Robert Shapiro conned him into handing over the...

Spector's Cash His Best Defense

Jonas Oransky — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 13:22:39 CDT

Phil Spector’s money mattered more than his celebrity in convincing two jurors of his innocence in this week’s mistrial on second-degree murder charges. Several jurors had never heard of the record producer—so it was his ability to hire a pricey team of lawyers, forensic experts, and private investigators, the...

Spector Walks After Mistrial

Neal Colgrass — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 19:00:00 CDT

Jurors announced a 10 to 2 deadlock in the Phil Spector trial today after more than 2 weeks of deliberations, sparking the judge to declare a mistrial. The jury was split more evenly a week ago, and did not reveal the position of its 2 holdouts. As Spector went home,...

Spector Judge Rejects Option of Manslaughter

Polly Davis Doig — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 16:42:44 CDT

Saying it would imply a guilty verdict of some kind is the goal, the judge in Phil Spector's murder trial today decided against having deadlocked jurors deliberate a lesser charge of manslaughter. The jury said yesterday it was split 7-5 after seven days of deliberation over the charge facing the...