Murder of Lana Clarkson

Murder of Lana Clarkson
Clarkson in a promotional photo
Location	Alhambra, California
Date	February 3, 2003 (2003-02-03)
Victim	Lana Clarkson
Perpetrator	Phil Spector

On February 3, 2003, actress Lana Clarkson was found dead in the mansion belonging to record producer Phil Spector. In the early hours of that morning, she met Spector while working at the House of Blues in Los Angeles. They left the House of Blues in Spector's limousine and drove to his mansion. Spector and Clarkson went inside while his driver waited outside in the car.^[1] About an hour later, the driver heard a gunshot before Spector exited his house through the back door with a gun. He was quoted as saying, according to affidavits, "I think I just shot her."^[1] Spector later said Clarkson's death was an "accidental suicide" and that she "kissed the gun".^[2]

Spector was tried for the murder of Clarkson in 2007. On September 26, 2007, a mistrial was declared due to a hung jury ten to two for conviction. He was tried again for second-degree murder on October 20, 2008. On April 13, 2009, the jury found Spector guilty of murdering Clarkson. Spector was sentenced on May 29, 2009 to 19 years to life in state prison.

Background

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On February 3, 2003, actress Lana Clarkson was found dead in Spector's mansion (the Pyrenees Castle) in Alhambra, California. Her body was found slumped in a chair with a single gunshot wound to her mouth with broken teeth scattered over the carpet.^[3] Spector told Esquire Magazine in July 2003 that Clarkson's death was an "accidental suicide" and that she "kissed the gun".^[4] The emergency call from Spector's home, made by Spector's driver, Adriano de Souza, quotes Spector as saying, "I think I've killed someone".^[4] De Souza added that he saw Spector come out the back door of the house with a gun in his hand.^[4][5]

According to the prosecution, Spector had previously pulled a gun on four women. In each case, he had been drinking and "was romantically interested in the woman, but grew angry after the woman spurned him." The prosecution alleged that on each occasion, he pointed a gun at the woman to prevent her from walking out.^[6] The prosecution argued that the testimony of the other women was important to demonstrating a "common plan or scheme." The defense sought to prevent the women from providing such testimony. Though the law generally forbids the introduction of evidence showing a defendant's previous transgressions, the judge ruled the testimony "can be used to show lack of accident or mistake."^[6]

Court trials

2009 mug shot.

Spector remained free on $1 million bail while awaiting trial, which began on March 19, 2007. Presiding Judge Larry Paul Fidler allowed the proceedings in Los Angeles Superior Court to be televised.^[7] At the start of the trial, the defense forensic expert Henry Lee was accused of hiding crucial evidence that the District Attorney's office claimed could prove Spector's guilt. On September 26, 2007, Judge Fidler declared a mistrial because of a hung jury (ten to two for conviction).^[8][9][10] Before and during the first trial, Spector went through at least three sets of attorneys. Defense attorney Robert Shapiro represented Spector at the arraignment and early pretrial hearings and achieved his release on $1 million bail. Bruce Cutler represented him during the 2007 trial, but withdrew on August 27, 2007, claiming "a difference of opinion between Mr. Spector and me on strategy". Attorney Linda Kenney Baden then became lead lawyer for closing arguments.^[11]

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The retrial of Spector for murder in the second degree began on October 20, 2008,^[12] with Judge Fidler again presiding; this time it was not televised. The case went to the jury on March 26, 2009, and nineteen days later, on April 13, the jury returned a guilty verdict.^[13][14] Additionally, he was found guilty of using a firearm in the commission of a crime, which added four years to the sentence.^[15] Spector was immediately taken into custody and was sentenced, on May 29, 2009, to 19 years to life in the California state prison system.^[16]

Appeals

The California Second District Court of Appeal affirmed Spector's conviction in May 2011 and denied his request for a rehearing of the appeal shortly thereafter.^[17] On August 17, 2011, the California Supreme Court declined to review the court of appeal's decision to affirm his conviction.^[18][19][20]

In December 2011, Spector's attorneys petitioned for review by the Supreme Court of the United States,^[21] arguing that his constitutional due process rights were violated when prosecutors used the trial judge's comments about an expert’s testimony, effectively making the judge a witness for the prosecution. Spector's attorney Dennis Riordan argued the constitutional right to confront witnesses did not permit the prosecution to introduce at trial a videotape of statements made by the judge at a pretrial hearing that never were subjected to cross examination. In February 2012, the Supreme Court denied the petition.^[22]

In June 2012, Spector's attorneys filed a habeas corpus appeal in Federal District Court, once again on grounds that the original trial judge “did numerous inappropriate things which caused [Spector] a denial of his due process".^[23] In July 2013, Attorney Dennis Riordan filed a petition with a US Magistrate urging prompt action due to Spector's ill health. In June 2015, Federal Magistrate Judge Paul L. Abrams recommended denial of Spector's habeas corpus petition and dismissal of the appeal. The dismissal was so ordered the following month by District Judge S. James Otero, who also denied Spector’s request to certify the case for further appeal to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.^[24] In August 2015, Spector's lawyers filed another motion for a certificate of appealability to the Ninth Circuit.^[25]

As of 2009, Spector is serving his sentence at the California Health Care Facility, California State Prison (Stockton, California).^[26] He will be 88 years old before becoming eligible for parole.^[16][27]

Film inspired by the case

Phil Spector, a 2013 HBO film written and directed by David Mamet and starring Al Pacino as Spector and Helen Mirren as defense attorney Linda Kenney Baden, depicted a fictionalized account of the murder and trials.^[28] The film drew criticism from Clarkson's family and friends, who charged that the suicide defense was given more merit than it deserved, and also from Spector's wife, who argued that Spector was portrayed as a "foul-mouthed megalomaniac" and a "minotaur".^[29][30]

References

External links

• Complete Phil Spector murder case coverage from Court TV
• Tabloid Column news about Phil Spector
• Search warrant and affidavit at The Smoking Gun.
• CrimeLibrary.com – Phil Spector: The "mad genius" of Rock'n'Roll
• Ronettes' Profits Limited by 1963 Contract, New York Law Journal, October 21, 2002