"Sinister and deadly" music producer Phil Spector's murder trial begins

**pacific breeze** · April 27th, 2007, 07:35 PM

CBC.ca Arts - Spector called 'sinister and deadly' as murder trial opens
Last Updated: Wednesday, April 25, 2007 | 4:08 PM ET
CBC Arts

A prosecutor in the murder trial of former record producer Phil Spector says he will present a case that shows Spector can be "sinister and deadly."

Alan Jackson was laying out the case against Spector in opening statements before a jury in a Los Angeles courtroom on Wednesday.

Spector is charged in the death of actress Lana Clarkson, 40, who was found shot inside Spector's home four years ago.

Spector is someone "who, when he's confronted with the right circumstances, when he's confronted with the right situations, turns sinister and deadly," Jackson said.

"The evidence is going to paint a picture of a man who on Feb. 3, 2003, put a loaded pistol in Lana Clarkson's mouth — inside her mouth — and shot her to death."

Spector has pleaded not guilty. His defence lawyers claim Clarkson put the gun in her mouth and shot herself.

Spector, who was charged eight months after the death, has called it an "accidental suicide."

Spector, 67, was legendary for his "wall of sound" technique, which transformed rock 'n' roll in the 1960s.

He has lived a reclusive existence for years and rarely comes out of his home in suburban Alhambra.

Clarkson, best known for her role in cult movie Barbarian Queen, was found dead with a gunshot through her mouth. She had met Spector just that evening at a nightclub where she worked as a hostess.

The case is being televised and could last up to three months.
With files from the Associated Press

**twitchy** · April 27th, 2007, 08:23 PM

I'd love to know just what an "accidental suicide" is.

**pacific breeze** · April 27th, 2007, 08:25 PM

^^LOL. Spector has been waving guns around and threatening people with them for decades.

**McJag** · April 27th, 2007, 11:40 PM

He is a certifiable creep.I give the jury 15 minutes to announce his guilt.

**sputnik** · April 28th, 2007, 09:40 AM

Originally Posted by twitchy

i admit it, i get a huge kick out of looking at spector. such a weirdo.

**Cotjockey** · April 28th, 2007, 06:12 PM

He's got the bucks, so I'm betting he'll prolly get off - just like OJ and Robert Blake did.

**blissfullyunaware** · May 1st, 2007, 02:45 PM

Originally Posted by Cotjockey

He's got the bucks, so I'm betting he'll prolly get off - just like OJ and Robert Blake did.

Lana Clarkson was considered a "nobody" wheras this Spector guy is a rich producer. Nobody seems to care that what he did was wrong, I watched the news one night shortly after this happened and this man has a lot of support from his celebrity friends. I do hope that he ends up in jail though!

**darksithbunny** · May 1st, 2007, 03:15 PM

I was surprised to see how many movies Lana was in that I watched and liked.

**LynnieD** · May 1st, 2007, 03:23 PM

Couple of comments/questions here:

A) What the hell took so long for this to go to trial?? It's been YEARS.

B) Boyfriend should be locked for wearing those horrible wigs alone.