Spector Witness May Have Her Say

Prosecutors in the Phil Spector murder retrial were tentatively given the OK by the judge July 29 to use Court TV footage of the testimony of a witness who died after the trial ended with a hung jury last September.

The defense had requested jurors only use the witness’ transcripts but Judge Larry Fidler said video is more accurate because transcripts don’t show demeanor, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Fidler said he would make a final ruling after he screened a DVD of Dianne Ogden’s testimony. To allow prosecutors to file additional papers, he postponed his ruling on allowing Ogden’s testimony and that of other women who say Spector threatened them with weapons until August 14.

The judge denied the defense’s request to limit the testimony of two forensic experts, including a criminalist who testified that Spector was within three feet of the murder weapon when the gun was discharged.

The 67-year-old music producer is accused of murdering actress Lana Clarkson, 40, at his Southern California mansion February 3, 2003.

A retrial is scheduled for September 29 with jury selection October 2.