Spector Jury Selection Begins In L.A.
Jury selection began Monday in the murder trial of legendary music producer Phil Spector, four years after an actress who starred in a cult movie was shot to death in the foyer of his castle-like home.
Jurors will be asked to decide if Spector was responsible for the death of Lana Clarkson, who was shot in the face on Feb. 3, 2003.
They will consider conflicting evidence about what happened before police found Clarkson, 40, slumped dead in a chair, her teeth blown out by a gunshot to her mouth.
Clarkson was best known as the star of Roger Corman's cult film "Barbarian Queen." She was working as a hostess at the House of Blues when she went home with Spector that night.Photos: Courting Phil Spector
The coroner's office called it a homicide "death by the hand of another" — but also noted that Clarkson had gunshot residue on both of her hands and may have pulled the trigger.Timeline: Phil Spector
In an e-mail to friends, Spector, 66, called the death "an accidental suicide."
Spector, who created the "wall of sound" that revolutionized the recording of rock music, was present as the first members of a prospective jury pool of 300 people entered the downtown courtroom. He has pleaded not guilty and has been free on $1 million bail since his arrest. If convicted, he could face life in prison.
His New York lawyer, Bruce Cutler, said his defense will be simple: "He didn't shoot this woman." Prosecutors claim Spector placed the gun in her mouth and fired.
After two days of the jury selection process, lawyers will take a one-month break. There is a pretrial hearing April 9 to read the prospective jurors' answers and hone their jury selection strategy. On April 16, jurors are to be questioned individually.
Opening statements are to begin April 30. The judge has ruled that the trial can be televised.
Spector's appearance may rivet TV audiences. His theatrical attire usually includes three-inch-high boots, frock coats and outlandish wigs. Cutler is also known for flamboyant speeches in court.
Unlike the O.J. Simpson trial, where jurors' familiarity with the celebrity defendant was a huge issue, Spector's musical legacy may be dusty enough to escape notice by most younger prospective jurors.
Legal experts say that while Spector is a legend in the music business, the celebrity factor is likely to be minimal because only older members of the public are aware of his impact on pop music in the 1960s.
"The defense may want music fans who have an appreciation for Phil Spector's mark on music history," said Loyola Law School Professor Laurie Levenson. "But there won't be many of those in the jury pool, not even in Tinseltown."
Spector produced the Beatles' "Let It Be" album and George Harrison's "Concert for Bangladesh," and has been cited as an influence by Bruce Springsteen and countless other artists.
Spector also wrote such rock classics as "Da Doo Ron Ron," "Be My Baby," "You've Lost that Lovin' Feeling" and "River Deep-Mountain High," although his name is rarely mentioned along with the artists who recorded the songs.