I always think of Phil Spector as the Howard Hughes of music – incredibly talented and innovative, yet eccentric and reclusive. I always wondered how the same man who created the now famous “Wall of Sound” could also be the same one that reportedly kept wife Ronnie (of the Ronettes) captive in their home and waved a handgun at John Lennon. Now, he has been found guilty of second degree murder.
In case you’ve forgotten the whole story (it has been dragging on since 2003), Spector was charged with the shooting death of actress/hostess Lana Clarkson. Clarkson, 40, had met Spector on the night of February 3, 2003 when she was working at the West Hollywood House of Blues. Once her shift was over, Spector invited her back to his mansion. Sometime in the early morning, Clarkson was found dead in the foyer from a gunshot wound to the mouth. Spector said the death was an “accidental suicide,” but reportedly told police “I think I killed somebody.”
Spector’s first trial was controversial as the forensic expert Henry Lee was suspected of either hiding or losing potentially damning evidence that would have shown Spector was guilty. Also confusing was the fact that the coroner’s report showed that Clarkson had had a gun shoved in her mouth, yet a DNA expert found only Clarkson’s prints on the gun. The first trial was declared a mistrial by the judge after the jury was deadlocked with a 10-2 vote for conviction.
The second trial ended yesterday with a conviction of second degree murder. After the announcement, Spector seemed unmoved while his wife Rachelle openly wept. What could be in store for the 69 year old Spector? He is facing 15 years to life with the possibility of 10 years being added to the sentence because a handgun was used in the crime. Spector will be sentenced on May 29, 2009.