Staring into the abyss … fallen pop icon Spector faces life in prison for murder

Published on Tuesday 14 April 2009 20:04

MUSIC producer Phil Spector was spending his first day behind bars yesterday after being convicted of murdering actress Lana Clarkson.

The 68-year-old was found guilty of second-degree murder on Monday after a five-month retrial and nearly 30 hours of jury deliberations. He was also found guilty of the lesser charge of using a firearm in committing a crime.

He faces a mandatory 15 years to life imprisonment when sentenced on 29 May. Bail was revoked.

Clarkson, 40, died of a gunshot fired into her mouth while seated in the foyer of Spector's hill-top mansion in 2003.

The producer – famous for his "wall of sound" recording technique – had denied the charge. He was gaunt and quiet as the verdict was delivered in the Los Angeles Superior Court.

Two juries heard Spector's driver claim the star emerged from the house with a gun saying: "I think I killed someone."

But his lawyers maintained Clarkson committed suicide. In an interview, Spector said and the actress and bar hostess "kissed the gun" before pulling the trigger.

The first trial was ended in 2007 after jurors failed to reach a unanimous decision.