.

Phil Spector's Lawyers Push for Third Trial

Producer is currently serving a sentence of at least 19 years

April 12, 2011 5:05 PM ET
Phil Spector's Lawyers Push for Third Trial
Kevork Djansezian/Getty

Phil Spector's lawyers are urging an appeals court in California to throw out the legendary record producer's 2009 murder conviction and grant him a third trial. Spector is currently serving a prison sentence of at least 19 years for the 2003 murder of actress Lana Clarkson, who was found dead of from a gun shot wound to the mouth in the foyer of his home.

Choose the Cover of Rolling Stone, Round Two: Vote by April 14!

According to Spector's attorneys, his second trial – the first was declared a mistrial when jurors deadlocked – was prejudiced by testimony from five women who claimed to be victims of gun-related incidents with Spector in the past. Spector's lawyers maintain that Clarkson committed suicide out of depression. The prosecution insists that Spector's history of gun play is relevant to the case.

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

prev
Music Main Next

blog comments powered by Disqus
Daily Newsletter

Get the latest RS news in your inbox.

Sign up to receive the Rolling Stone newsletter and special offers from RS and its
marketing partners.

X

We may use your e-mail address to send you the newsletter and offers that may interest you, on behalf of Rolling Stone and its partners. For more information please read our Privacy Policy.

Song Stories

“Oh Sherrie”

Steve Perry | 1984

Steve Perry's girlfriend Sherrie Swafford was actually in the studio when Perry began writing this song--his lone Top Ten hit as a solo act--with two co-writers. The trio began at midnight one night with just "Oh, Sherrie!" and "hold on, hold on." Three hours later, they had a complete song. Swafford, however, had to wait until the next day to hear it. "Sherrie actually got tired and went to bed," Perry said. She also appeared in the video, but their relationship did not hold on for long.

More Song Stories entries »