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After Six Months, Jury Deliberates Phil Spector Case

By Jeralyn, Section Crime in the News
Posted on Thu Mar 26, 2009 at 07:02:36 PM EST
Tags: Phil Spector (all tags)
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The jury is out in the Phil Spector murder trial. Six months of testimony, three days of closing arguments, with the prosecutor, as always, getting the last word (they get the last word because they have the burden of proof.)

This time around, the jury has the option of involuntary manslaughter as a lesser included offense, which carries up to four years.

The prosecutor apparently borrowed some Martha Moxley-style graphic tricks in his closing today, blowing up the photos of Lana Clarkson and five other women who claimed Spector waved a gun around them when drunk. He saved Clarkson's picture for last and yelled "Pow" when it appeared, simulating a gun going off. [More...]

This morning Jackson intoned the names of each of these women who had testified, followed by the words, "A woman, alcohol and loss of control -- Phillip Spector reaches for a gun. Click." After each of these clicks a photo of the woman appeared on a projection screen, so that the five formed the circle of a revolver's cylinder. The courtroom cringed when Jackson got to Lana Clarkson and repeated the formula for Spector's behavior. Instead of saying "click" he went "Pow!" and the release felt among some spectators was as though he had fired a gun.

Will it work with the jury? Or, will the fact that De Souza, the Brazilian chauffeur and the only witness to incriminate Spector, admitted lying four times on visa applications, render him non-credible in their eyes?

All of our coverage of the case since 2003 is assembled here.

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    After Six Months, Jury Deliberates Phil Spector Case | 10 comments (10 topical)

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    Involuntary manslaughter (none / 0) (#1)
    by 1980Ford on Thu Mar 26, 2009 at 07:10:01 PM EST
    Jurors think if the state went to all that trouble the defendant must be guilty of something, so they will compromise if there are any holdouts.

    I don't WANT to feel sorry ... (none / 0) (#2)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Thu Mar 26, 2009 at 07:30:16 PM EST
    ...for Phil Spector, but I do. One look at his pathetic mug in the courtroom, and it's apparent that his elevator hasn't reached the top floor for some time now. Now, whether that's due to years of alcohol and drug abuse, or other factors, I don't know.

    Lana Clarkson made a very unfortunate choice that night, going back to his place -- but then, how was she to know of his violent misogynist tendencies, particularly when under the influence?

    While Mr. Spector should pay a steep price for his wantonly reckless behavior toward Ms. Clarkson if convicted of murder or manslaughter, I do hope that the court subsequently mandates that he receive the serious psychological help he clearly needs.

    Spector's elevator has been (none / 0) (#3)
    by Cards In 4 on Thu Mar 26, 2009 at 08:20:12 PM EST
    broken for a long time.  Ask Ronnie how he treated her during their marriage.  Or read what Johnny Ramone thought of him when Spector produced End of the Century.

    He has needed help for a long time but was never going to get it on his own. It would be a shame that Clarkson had to die for him to get the help everyone around Spector knew he needed.  Not such a great deal for Clarkson.

    [ Parent ]

    I kinda thought.... (none / 0) (#6)
    by kdog on Fri Mar 27, 2009 at 09:22:59 AM EST
    Johnny Ramone was just a little jealous of all the attention Phil gave Joey, and his "10,000 take" production style.

    [ Parent ]
    comment falsely stating (none / 0) (#4)
    by Jeralyn on Thu Mar 26, 2009 at 10:59:40 PM EST
    Spector killed or is responsible for the death has been deleted. That's the jury's job and we don't presume people guilty on this site.

    He is "responsible" (none / 0) (#5)
    by Bemused on Fri Mar 27, 2009 at 07:30:39 AM EST
     for the death. The question is whether he is "criminally responsible" and if so to what degree.

    [ Parent ]
    i didn't say Spector "killed" her (none / 0) (#7)
    by Bemused on Fri Mar 27, 2009 at 09:32:07 AM EST
     Once again, you need to read before acting. I said he is "responsible" for her death and that the question is whether he is criminally responsible, and if so to waht extent.

      If you disagree that a person that allows an obviously distraught person to use his own handgun and commit suicide bears no responsibility for the death, you are free to make the case for that.

    [ Parent ]

    6 month trial? Ye gods. (none / 0) (#8)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Fri Mar 27, 2009 at 11:10:55 AM EST
    They should carve statues of the jurors and mount them on pedestals outside the courtroom. If I was one of the jurors I'd have gotten "incurably ill" after day two...

    I hear you (none / 0) (#9)
    by Bemused on Fri Mar 27, 2009 at 11:19:09 AM EST
      I've never quite heard an explanation for why trial that would take a week most places take a month in California, and ones that would take a month take forever.

    [ Parent ]
    And CA wonders why it's so difficult to get jurors (none / 0) (#10)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Fri Mar 27, 2009 at 12:32:18 PM EST


    [ Parent ]
    After Six Months, Jury Deliberates Phil Spector Case | 10 comments (10 topical)

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