Phil Spector: Convicted of murder

Phil Spector: Convicted of murder

On Monday eccentric music producer Phil Spector was convicted of murdering a Hollywood actress in the year 2003, and is likely going to spend the rest of his life in prison.

Sources have thrown more light on this news of Phil Spector. During his second trial that was held after jurors and remained deadlocked in the year 2007, sixty nine year Spector was found guilty of 2nd degree murder by a jury at Los Angeles. The man once revered for revolutionizing pop music during 1960s with his layered "Wall of Sound" production technique, might have faced eighteen years of imprisonment when he is sentenced on 29th May.

Forty year old Lana Clarkson, a B-movie actress, died of a shot to the mouth after being fired from Spector's gun in the foyer of his home outside Los Angeles on 3rd February in the year 2003. The two met hours earlier at a Hollywood nightclub.

The criminal defense attorney Darren Kavinoky of California said that Spector could be paroled only after spending the initial 18 years in prison.

"He's got a better chance of winning the lottery than ever being released," added Kavinoky, who was not involved in the case.

Phil Spector, who worked with The Ronettes, The Beatles, Cher and Leonard Cohen at the height of his fame, denied murdering of Clarkson. His lawyers added that on Monday they are going to make appeal.

He did not testify at the trial. However his hands shook while the verdict was read and showed little emotion. He was taken into custody immediately after the verdict.

The prosecutors argued that the shooting of Clarkson was part of a pattern of gun play and violence that Spector displayed toward women.

After the verdict, the prosecutor Alan Jackson told reporters Spector "has a problem with rage, and he is a bully."

The lawyers of Phil Spector brought out the claim that Clarkson was depressed about her failing career and committed suicide.

She worked as a hostess at the House of Blues in Hollywood when she met the man who produced songs like the Righteous Brothers' hit "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin.'" Clarkson starred in such little-known movies as "Barbarian Queen" and "Amazon Women on the Moon."

The family of Clarkson, who also filed a wrongful death civil suit against Spector, continued that they were "pleased that the jury had rejected the distortion and trashing of (her) life by the defense."

In a statement they said that "Justice has been served," "Mr. Spector has to take responsibility for his actions."

The two long trials featured testimony from five women and a jury visit to the mock castle where the reclusive Spector resided. None of his old pop music friends testified in his defense.

Spector’s attorney Doron Weinberg criticized the decision to allow several female witnesses for testifying the incidents that dated back almost twenty years. It "left us with very little of a chance to have a fair trial." Weinberg made this comment.

The jury forewoman told reporters that the panel based their decision on the totality of the evidence, rather than specific incidents.

Spector had a troubled early life. His father committed suicide and his sister spent time in mental institutions. Due to all these Spector suffered bouts of severe depression.

Shortly before Clarkson was shot, Spector told British journalist Mick Brown in a rare interview that he had a bipolar personality and had "devils that fight inside me."

In the year 2006, for the fourth time he quietly wed model/actress Rachelle Short, who is nearly thirty years younger than him.