Post by Coach on Sept 18, 2007 16:46:36 GMT -5
www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20840541/
Jury at an impasse in Spector murder trial
Judge considering giving jurors option to consider manslaughter charge
LOS ANGELES - The foreman of the jury in Phil Spector’s murder trial told the judge Tuesday that the panel is at an impasse of 7 to 5, but he did not indicate which way it was leaning.
“At this time I don’t believe that anything else will change the positions of the jurors,” the foreman said when Superior Court Judge Larry Paul Fidler asked if there was anything he could do to help.
Polled individually, some jurors agreed with the foreman and others disagreed. One suggested further instruction about reasonable doubt.
The judge then sent the panelists back into the jury room to discuss the situation with lawyers, saying he intended to send the jurors home for the day.
The defense immediately asked for a mistrial, but the judge denied it on grounds that three jurors indicated further instructions may help.
The record producer is charged with second-degree murder, and the judge previously ruled that the panel would decide only that charge and not consider lesser charges such as manslaughter.
However, Superior Court Judge Larry Paul Fidler told the attorneys he was reconsidering and might instruct the jury to consider a lesser charge.
Spector, 67, is charged in the Feb. 3, 2003, shooting of actress Lana Clarkson, 40. The case went to the jury Sept. 10.
Clarkson was killed by a bullet fired from a gun inside her mouth. The defense contended in the long trial that she had many personal problems and killed herself either by accident or suicide.
Spector was a producer of hit rock music records decades ago, creating what became known as the “Wall of Sound” recording technique.
Clarkson had modest success as the star of Roger Corman’s 1985 cult film “Barbarian Queen.” She was working as a hostess at the House of Blues when she met Spector and went home with him after work, just hours before she died.
Jury at an impasse in Spector murder trial
Judge considering giving jurors option to consider manslaughter charge
LOS ANGELES - The foreman of the jury in Phil Spector’s murder trial told the judge Tuesday that the panel is at an impasse of 7 to 5, but he did not indicate which way it was leaning.
“At this time I don’t believe that anything else will change the positions of the jurors,” the foreman said when Superior Court Judge Larry Paul Fidler asked if there was anything he could do to help.
Polled individually, some jurors agreed with the foreman and others disagreed. One suggested further instruction about reasonable doubt.
The judge then sent the panelists back into the jury room to discuss the situation with lawyers, saying he intended to send the jurors home for the day.
The defense immediately asked for a mistrial, but the judge denied it on grounds that three jurors indicated further instructions may help.
The record producer is charged with second-degree murder, and the judge previously ruled that the panel would decide only that charge and not consider lesser charges such as manslaughter.
However, Superior Court Judge Larry Paul Fidler told the attorneys he was reconsidering and might instruct the jury to consider a lesser charge.
Spector, 67, is charged in the Feb. 3, 2003, shooting of actress Lana Clarkson, 40. The case went to the jury Sept. 10.
Clarkson was killed by a bullet fired from a gun inside her mouth. The defense contended in the long trial that she had many personal problems and killed herself either by accident or suicide.
Spector was a producer of hit rock music records decades ago, creating what became known as the “Wall of Sound” recording technique.
Clarkson had modest success as the star of Roger Corman’s 1985 cult film “Barbarian Queen.” She was working as a hostess at the House of Blues when she met Spector and went home with him after work, just hours before she died.
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