New jury hears arguments in Spector murder retrial
A prosecutor on Wednesday portrayed eccentric musical genius Phil Spector as a man who repeatedly threatened women with guns and could become "very sinister, very violent and very deadly" when he was drunk.
The opening statement by prosecutor Alan Jackson in Spector's retrial on a murder charge drew scrutiny from defense attorney Doron Weinberg, who called it an effort to try Spector for his character, rather than for the crime he is accused of committing.
Prosecutors claim Spector shot actress Lana Clarkson in 2003 after she resisted his sexual advances.
"This is turning into the trial of his character, which this court knows is clearly unconstitutional and impermissible," Weinberg told Superior Court Judge Larry Fidler outside the jury's presence.
Weinberg later moved for a mistrial, saying the jury had been intentionally poisoned by the remarks. Fidler rejected the motion.
In a speech reminiscent of the one he gave at the first trial, Jackson briefly described the killing of Clarkson at Spector's mansion and displayed photos showing her in life and death. One image showed her body slumped in a chair with blood all over her face.
Jackson also recounted the statement of a chauffeur who told of Spector emerging from the house saying: "I think I killed somebody."
Jackson delivered his statement before a packed courtroom, with Clarkson's mother and sister seated in the front row. Spector wore a black pinstriped suit and white tie and was accompanied to court by his wife, Rachelle, and a bodyguard.
The defense was expected to give its opening statement later in the day. In Spector's first trial, the defense argued the 40-year-old Clarkson became despondent over her fading career and killed herself.
Most of Jackson's opening statement dealt with a long line of women stretching over 30 years who he said were threatened with death by a gun-wielding Spector.
He showed photos of five of them interspersed with quotes from their previous testimony, profane voicemail messages left for them by Spector and, in one case, a video excerpt from the testimony of a witness who has since died.
In that footage, Diane Ogden pointed a finger at her head and testified that Spector held a gun to her face. "He said he was going to blow my brains out," she testified.
The judge told Jackson several times to stop referring to a pattern of behavior.
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