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The Phil Spector Trial: We Watch Court TV So You Don’t Have To

8/17/07, 9:40 am EST

Photo: Phil Spector

WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY?
Phil Spector’s defense team had a rough start on Thursday. Judge Larry Fidler ruled that while he wouldn’t strike from the record Tuesday’s controversial tesimony about the gunshot wound that killed Lana Clarkson – according to forensic king Dr. Michael Baden, it didn’t sever her spine, which mean that she was still breathing after the wound. This prompted Spector defense lawyer Bradley Brunon to tell the judge he was “putting a thumb on the scale.” Fidler exploded into a tirade, which prompted Brunon to quickly withdraw his comment from the record.

After the fireworks, Baden ended a tumultuous turn on the witness stand by fielding cross-examination questions from both sides. Recalling the previous day’s “conflict of interest” testimony, the prosecution tried to connect the dots by showing that while Baden says he is an unbiased witness, he does own stock in Spector’s acquittal as his wife Linda Kenney-Baden will receive $150,000 for serving as Spector’s defense lawyer (not to mention her reputation as an elite defense lawyer may be tarnished). In a startling moment, Spector was instructed by his team to pretend he was pointing a gun to show that if he had shot Lana Clarkson, he’d have gunshot residue on his hair, clothes, skin, etc. The point wasn’t really made, but it did create a haunting image for the jury.

IS THIS GOOD OR BAD FOR SPECTOR?:
Both. The non-severed spine theory could lead to reasonable doubt, but it begs the question: If Lana Clarkson was still breathing after allegedly, according to Spector, shooting herself, then why didn’t Spector immediately call the police if she was still breathing?

MEANWHILE, OUTSIDE OF COURT:
After having a perfect jury attendance for the entirety of the case, the trial lost an alternate juror yesterday due to the alternate’s need to tend to a seriously ill relative. Judge Fidler asked that both the prosecution and the defense pick up the pace, as jurors dropping from the panel seem to have a snowball effect.


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Comments

Steve | 8/17/2007, 10:45 am EST

Alan Jackson. He beats up on the witness rather than look for the truth.

Write A Caption | 8/17/2007, 10:59 am EST

Since the defense team is now running on nothing but steam, they decided to make friends with the jury by challenging them to a game of Cowboys and Indians. Later today the defense will play Twister with the jury. And Monday the defense and jury will warm up with a game of Freeze Tag, and then play a few rounds of Hide and Go seek. Stay Tuned.

Linda Snow | 8/17/2007, 12:04 pm EST

What a travesty of justice if Spector walks! In any “Murder” case, there can always be a reasonable doubt if there is enough money to hire a “dream team” (justice nightmare) of power and money hungry attorneys throwing everything out there to confuse just one juror with so called reasonable doubt.

God help us!

peter | 8/17/2007, 1:04 pm EST

for chrissake lets have a verdict. zzzzzzzz.

GOOGLE TOOLBAR | 8/17/2007, 1:49 pm EST

DOES ANYONE EVER REMEMBER
DR.BADEN BEING ON THE SIDE
OF THE PROSECUTION? DO YOU
SUPPOSE IT HAS ANYTHING TO
DO WITH MONEY?

Dear Write A Caption | 8/17/2007, 2:45 pm EST

In your estimation, how many miles away is BC from upstate New York?
Van is coming to Van, so I don’t need to travel too far for that particular attraction.

precision processor | 8/17/2007, 2:49 pm EST

I conclude from the testimony of other women who’ve testified that Spector put guns to their heads to coerce sex in some instances, that he is a date rapist. I have no doubt that Spector put the gun to the head of Lana Clarkson which killed her. I hope he does not buy himself free of punishment using highly paid experts who see it in his favor .

Bukowski | 8/17/2007, 4:45 pm EST

I’m a lot further away from it than you are. I’m from NYC, but now, for the time being, I am stuck in a cosmic shithole called Cleveland, TN. I’m convinced that when the Apocolypse happens they will dig a giant ditch here and this place will the official location for Hades. Most people here are brain dead and need put out their misery. What am I doing here? It’s long story, as they say. That’s why I’m hoping to drop a novel,work on my album and hopefully make enough cash to never, ever, have to look at this most evil place again (you’re fortunate to have caught me in a good mood today). So I work on my novel, visit with my mom, my sister, and my nieces, play with my cat, and keep all these genetic defectives at a safe distance at all times.

Bukowski | 8/17/2007, 4:55 pm EST

By the way VG,I want to officially apologize for being a douche a while back. I grew up in Staten Island and Brooklyn and I sort of grew up on the maxim of punch first and ask questions later. But I’m slowly growing, ever so slowly. I apologize on behalf of my inner caveman.

VG | 8/17/2007, 5:16 pm EST

What genre of music is closest to your style, Bukowski – punk?
Listen, I have to go…
Don’t sweat the small stuff. If it’s just about the money, money can always be replaced.
Talk later.

Bukowski | 8/17/2007, 6:01 pm EST

It’s hard to say. I love Led Zeppelin, the Police, Beatles, Stones, some Who. Progressive Rock but that’s pretty much limited to PG Genesis, especially The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway. You’d probably appeciate that one the most, because the songs rarely go over 5 minutes, so its in much small pieces, easier to digest. Weird stuff: I love some of Paul Williams stuff especially The Phantom of the Paradise Soundtrack and all kinds of songs from all over the place. A record that I’m constantly playing is KISS Dynasty.

Joyce danelen@yahoo.com | 8/17/2007, 7:31 pm EST

People, people don’t any of you read or google?
Phil Spector, offered these women
$100,000 US dollars to take a lie detector test.
NOT one took Phil up on the offer!
Now what does that tell you?
Phil Spector is innocent!
Phil could have any woman he wanted, you should see the beautiful women that want Phil.
Phil, is a great friend and would not hurt anyone.
On the other hand take a good look at Lana’s drinking habits, her work history, her pill and booze problems and don’t forget her mental problems. Did I mention her fraud? A daughter every mother would want LMAO.
Thank you for all the nice emails.
Joyce Danelen
JoyceDanelen@yahoo.com

RIP Lana, you found your fame in taking your own life.

Frank | 8/18/2007, 12:09 am EST

Amazing they’ve kept it going this long. Spector should have been in prison years ago. Guilty, guilty, guilty!

VG | 8/18/2007, 12:15 am EST

Bukowski,
Your sense of humor seems oddly familiar, but I can’t quite place it. Of all the bands you mentioned, it would definitely be Led Zep & The Beatles for me. Grew up on all that stuff, as well as Hendrix, Elvis & Clapton. Saw the Stones (10 years ago? Losing track of time…Bridges to Babylon tour). It was a great concert, but not my personal favorite I have been to (it ranked up there though). Posting over the weekend @ PJ blog.
~peace~

causeclaws | 8/18/2007, 1:39 pm EST

I think Spector killed Clarkson. I hope he spends the rest of his miserable life in prison.

VG | 8/18/2007, 4:10 pm EST

Bukowski,
Is there any particular reason you are constantly listening to KISS? I mean sure, they were known for their elaborate concert stage shows – I’m just not into their music itself. You have to give credit to Gene Simmons though – he discovered VH. As for the bands you mentioned, it would be Led Zep and the Beatles for me (and some Stones).
~peace~

Candace | 8/18/2007, 6:23 pm EST

Spector murdered poor Lana Clarkson, I believe. Why is he still free almost 5 years later? Oh, that’s right. He has a million plus legal defense and is out on a million dollar bail. How much I wonder for PAID witnesses who say they think Clarkson did it to herself? In the greenback we trust.

bukowski | 8/18/2007, 10:49 pm EST

Here’s the situation. I don’t like all their music, either. But there’s this one record called KISS Dynasty. It is an album that the critics and true blue KISS fans hated. It cost KISS a signifact portion of their fans for a long, difficult time, and unjustly so. It was over the song “I Was Made For LovIng You,” which was perceived by many as being a disco song. To my way of thinking, time has proven that this song isn’t a disco song at all, but an excellent hard rock song. Be that as it may, the rest of the album is amazing. The album rocks real hard and it’s the best thing they ever made. With this record, it’s not about smoke and mirrors, it’s about great hard rock music. And it IS great. It is overlooked by a lot of KISS fans and others because of it contains that controversial opening track. In my opinion, it is one of the greatest rock records ever made. Maybe you can go to Amamzon.com, plunk down the $10 and give it a whirl. You have nothing to lose. BTY no 20 minute songs on this one! Peace, Michael McKeon.

jj | 8/19/2007, 1:04 pm EST

talented psycho-chicken turns fox in hen house and lays a big egg. Lana didnt deserve to die at the hands of a power freak misogynist with a gun.
his previous – and well paid – work in the music field does not give him license to kill – give him LIFE to think about his evil arrogance – away from all his booze.

candace | 8/19/2007, 2:43 pm EST

If Spector did it, as I believe, it is doubtful he would have only the gun hand forcing the gun into her mouth. Wouldn’t his other hand be involved too? On her head – with pressure opposite the gun hand.

athena@arbuckleonline.com | 8/19/2007, 9:43 pm EST

I have watched Phil spector trial every day.He doesn’t want them to leave and when they try to, he pulls out a gun.He even locked his own children in their rooms and took off the door knobs..that is according to their interviews on court tv.If he were an average Joe, he would already be in jail. He is as guilty as sin.The only reason he is wealty enough to afford all of these hired guns is that he cheated all of the people whose songs he produced. Every one of them had to sue him.He is a crook as well as a murderer IMO. The only reason he might not be convicted is because the defense has made the water muddy. This is my opinion of which everyone is entitled to, because of watching the trial and interviews for months.

joel | 8/20/2007, 6:15 am EST

i saw kiss in concert in jersey one year. the pyrotecnics almost melted my contact lens. what an awesome show!

Teresa | 8/20/2007, 8:13 am EST

Right Joyce, Phil Spector is innocent and I suppose he can have any woman he wants without using a gun. He’s my friend, my only friend and I hope it will always stay like that. Having a friend like Phil Spector is just great.

bukowski | 8/20/2007, 12:24 pm EST

Hey Theresa, did someone put a gun to your head to get you to say that?

Candace | 8/20/2007, 4:40 pm EST

Spector could not have any woman he might want. I think the only women he could get are the ones nobody else would want – ever. Such women are truly “desperate women” and give the term its purest meaning. Who would want someone who threatens others with guns for no reason and is hideously ugly and on trial for murder????

bukowski | 8/20/2007, 7:18 pm EST

You’re right, Joyce. I’ll bet there’s lots of women just DYING to meet him! Ya get it, DYING to meet him? ha ha ha ha ha ha ha Oh, man sometimes I just KILL me! ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

Teresa | 8/21/2007, 6:14 am EST

Bukowski, just go to bed and keep quiet. I still consider Phil Spector innocent and I wish him good luck. Maybe you, mister Bukowki, consider yourself as more handsome but I prefer Phil Spector anyway, it’s not important for me how he’s dressed or what color his hair is. For me Phil Spector is TOP and so talented.

bukowski | 8/21/2007, 9:31 am EST

I hate to break this to you, if you really think he’s innocent, you have really taken complete loss of your faculties! If he’s such a catch, maybe you should’ve dated him yourself. Maybe he wouldn’t be on trial for murder now. Or maybe he’s still be on trial, but only now YOU would be the girl that was murdered!

candace | 8/21/2007, 1:22 pm EST

I wish justice good luck in the Spector trial. Justice is going to need luck to overcome the PAID witnesses Spector has on his side who say that Lana Clarkson killed herself.

Teresa | 8/23/2007, 6:00 am EST

1. Phil Spector innocent because not convinced at all he’s guilty.
2. Phil Spector is my friend.
3. Phil Spector is talented.
4. Phil Spector is in my dreams because L.A. so far away.
5. “Wall of Sound” mmmm….
6. Good luck Phil Spector.

waltherman | 9/7/2007, 4:21 pm EST

little control freak did not like anybody telling him no.

It’s time to pay for your STUPID drunken actions, Phil!

Your friends at San Q will be looking forward to “seeing” you up close.

Hi | 9/7/2007, 8:16 pm EST

You guys are funny.

phil | 5/31/2008, 7:14 am EST

Joyce (and evryone one else who ‘thinks’ spector is innocent. What kind of idiot are you? he was caught with the smoking gun in his hand and everyone not currenty in a straight jacket knows without a shadow of a doubt that he is guilty. Do you realise you are supporting a murderer and actually declaring that you want him to get away with murder? Would you be saying the same thing if the victim had been a member of your family? He MURDERED someone, you idiot! The fact that he is not in jail at the moment or that the trail has been drawn out so long should be a matter of deep shame to everyone in America.

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