Judge Declares Mistrial In Phil Spector Case

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (September 26, 2007) — Record producer Phil Spector’s murder trial ended in a mistrial Wednesday because of a jury deadlock.

Each juror told Superior Court Judge Larry Paul Fidler they could not reach a verdict.

“At this time, I will find that the jury is unable to arrive at a verdict and declare a mistrial in this matter,” the judge said.

The mistrial came on the 12th day of deliberations on whether Spector murdered actress Lana Clarkson more than 41/2 years ago. The nine-man, three-woman panel had heard about five months of testimony.

The foreman reported the panel was deadlocked 10-2 but did not indicate which way they were leaning.

The jury reported a 7-5 impasse last week and had resumed deliberations with modified instructions.

There was no discussion about whether there will be a retrial.

Spector, 67, is charged with second-degree murder. Clarkson, 40, died when a gun went off in her mouth as she sat in a chair in the foyer of Spector’s Alhambra mansion about 5 a.m. on Feb. 3, 2003.

She had met Spector just a few hours earlier at her job as a nightclub hostess and went home with him for a drink after work.

The defense contended through the trial that Clarkson had numerous personal problems and died of a self-inflicted wound which was either an accident or a suicide.

Prosecutors presented Spector’s chauffeur, who said he heard a “pow” and then Spector came outside with a gun in his hand and stated, “I think I killed somebody.” Prosecutors also called five women from Spector’s past who testified that he terrorized them with guns in long-ago incidents when they tried to leave his presence.

In a sideshow to the deliberations, authorities said Tuesday they were investigating a possible threat to the trial judge that was posted on the Internet.

The MySpace.com posting stated “I love Phil Spector” and “The Evil Judge should DIE!!!!.”

The posting was on a MySpace Web page called “Team Spector,” said Steve Whitmore, a spokesman for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. It was subsequently taken down, Superior Court spokesman Allan Parachini said.

Sheriff’s investigators were looking into the messages, which were signed “xoxo Chelle,” according to Parachini. Spector’s wife is named Rachelle, but one of his defense attorneys, Christopher Plourd, said she denied having anything to do with the notes.

Spector emerged on the music scene in the late 1950s and became a top producer using a hit-making recording technique that became known as the “Wall of Sound.” Clarkson was best known as the star of Roger Corman’s 1985 cult film “Barbarian Queen.”