Spector Goes Home

A judge has given the OK for the jury in Phil Spector’s retrial to tour his Alhambra, Calif., mansion where actress Lana Clarkson died from a gunshot wound.

The legendary music producer is accused of killing Clarkson at his mansion Feb. 3, 2003. Clarkson was killed by a gunshot to her mouth by a revolver that revealed no fingerprints.

The defense says it was self-inflicted either by accident or suicide. After meeting for about 44 hours over 12 days, the jury deadlocked 10-2 in favor of convicting him and a mistrial was declared in September 2008.

During the first trial the jury also visited Spector’s home – but Superior Court Judge Larry Paul Fidler said that this time there would be additional ground rules.

After prosecutors complained that Spector tried to manipulate a burbling fountain in the courtyard during the first jury’s trial, Fidler said he will consider having the fountain on only if there was an on/off switch and no way to change the sound.

Adriano DeSouza, a chauffeur who drove Spector and Clarkson the night of her death, testified in the first trial that right after Clarkson was shot, Spector walked outside and told him “I think I killed somebody,” according to the Los Angeles Times.
Spector’s lawyer says the driver misheard Spector because of the noise from the fountain.

The night before the site visit in the first trial, jury consultant Richard Gabriel sent an e-mail to one of Spector’s defense attorneys: “Fountain will be on full bore for site visit tomorrow, yes?” Spector then accidentally forwarded the e-mail to a former assistant who posted it online.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Alan Jackson said the phrase “full bore” indicates that “there is something else, maybe half bore or three-quarters bore” – proof of possible tampering.

If convicted of second-degree murder, Spector faces a minimum of 18 years in prison.