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

8/28/07, 8:57 am EST


WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY?
Following the fireworks that marked defense lawyer Bruce Cutler’s abrupt exit from the procedeeings yesterday, Judge Filder told a relieved jury that Monday would be the final day of testimony in the murder trial of Phil Spector. To close out the defense’s rebuttal case, two of the most reviled witnesses retook the stand. Jennifer Hayes-Riedl and the infamous Punkin Pie, two of Lana Clarkson’s “best friends,” answered questions regarding Clarkson’s depression in the days leading up to her death at Spector’s home. (We also learned that Clarkson attended an Allman Brothers concert at the Wiltern in her final months.) The prosecution bore down hard on Pie especially, trying to prove that she is more of an employee of the defense than a friend of Clarkson. On their last day, the defense tried to hammer home their theory that Clarkson shot herself at Spector’s mansion. Their final witness: fourteen e-mails by Clarkson herself, with somber passages projected on a large screen for the jury to read silently. It was a moving closing act and an appropriate way for the defense to rest their case.

IS THIS GOOD OR BAD FOR SPECTOR?
Both. It’s never good when you lose the lawyer who’s supposed to conduct closing arguments one week before they’re about to take place, but Cutler was loathed by pretty much everyone in the courtroom, including members of his own defense team. The Cutler departure does have the aura of abandoning ship before it sinks. Projecting the e-mails was effective, however, in that it will assure that Clarkson’s suicidal thoughts linger in the minds of the jury as we approach the last lap of a trial that’s been in session since April.

IN CLOSING:
Judge Fidler announced closing arguments will begin September 5th. The hiatus allows both prosecution and defense to conduct their summations without having the Labor Day break interfere with their flow. Luckily for Team Spector, the September 5th start date also allots the defense ample time to divide up closing duties now that Cutler left.

Photo: Getty


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Comments

The Phantom | 8/28/2007, 11:10 am EST

The Bride of Spectorstein

peter | 8/28/2007, 1:21 pm EST

hurry up for chrissake spector will be to old to jail if he is found guilty

Candace | 8/28/2007, 1:24 pm EST

There is no doubt in my mind that Spector murdered Clarkson. I hope he is found guilty and locked away for the remainder of his life. Good riddance. Lana Clarkson was wheedled into going to his home for a nightcap and was carried out in a body bag. Sheesh.

Henry Rychlicki | 8/28/2007, 1:38 pm EST

I do hope the truth prevails….

Why would Phil shoot anyone?

He’s filthy rich …

Henry Rychlicki Author

coffee | 8/28/2007, 1:42 pm EST

No one is saying spectorstein needed the money and tried to rob of her tips…..

trish | 8/28/2007, 2:23 pm EST

I DO BELIEVE HE DID DO IT HE IS OFF THE WALL THE DRUGS-MONEY-CELEBRITY ALL GO TO THE HEAD

bukowski | 8/28/2007, 2:28 pm EST

Who is that chick anyway? She looks like his twin sister. I think I like bride of Dr. Spectorstein better, though.

shannon eisner | 8/28/2007, 3:35 pm EST

All of these comments are sickening. I am glad Cutler is gone, but he did make one comment that stands true, Everyone had murder on their minds. All of you are loosers to the media, and obviusly didn;t listen to the evidence. How? Why? He didn’t!

anti-dolt | 8/28/2007, 4:06 pm EST

Of the 3 people at Spector’s home on Feb. 3, 2003, only one has talked at the trial. The limo driver has stated what Spector told him immediately after the shooting. Spector has declined to tell us about events and Clarkson cant. I believe what the limo driver said and that Spector did it.

bukowski | 8/28/2007, 5:36 pm EST

free phil spector

Anonymous | 8/28/2007, 6:04 pm EST

Free phil spector… With the electric chair! No, really I don’t give a fuck.

M. CROSS | 8/28/2007, 9:23 pm EST

I THINK IT WAS AN ACCIDENT…HE WAS THREATENING AND WAVING THE GUN AROUND LIKE HE ALWAYS DID IN THE PAST….SHE PANIC AND GRABBED THE GUN..AND IT WENT OFF…SHE WAS SITTING BY THE FRONT DOOR READY TO LEAVE WITH HER PURSE OVER HER SHOULDER…HE DIDN’T WANT HER TO LEAVE…AND STARTED WAVING THE GUN…

M. CROSS | 8/28/2007, 9:23 pm EST

I THINK IT WAS AN ACCIDENT…HE WAS THREATENING AND WAVING THE GUN AROUND LIKE HE ALWAYS DID IN THE PAST….SHE PANIC AND GRABBED THE GUN..AND IT WENT OFF…SHE WAS SITTING BY THE FRONT DOOR READY TO LEAVE WITH HER PURSE OVER HER SHOULDER…HE DIDN’T WANT HER TO LEAVE…AND STARTED WAVING THE GUN…

Joyce danelen@yahoo.com | 8/28/2007, 11:58 pm EST

PHIL SPECTOR IS INNOCENT!

NO ONE SHOOTS THE COW THAT GIVES FREE MILK.

RIP LANA BUT YOU DID YOURSELF IN.

Teresa | 8/29/2007, 3:00 am EST

People consider that Phil Spector is guilty because he’s rich and famous. If it was Mister Nobody probably there wouldn’t be any trial. Phil Spector took a woman to his house and she commited suicide. I think when a man takes a woman to his house it’s surely for another reason than to kill her. PHIL SPECTOR INNOCENT.

antidolt | 8/29/2007, 5:36 am EST

Spector’s limo drive, Adriano DeSousa, has testified that PHIL SPECTOR EMERGED from his home the morning of Feb. 3, 2003, holding a gun in a bloody hand and saying, “I THINK I KILLED SOMEBODY.” Inside Lana Clarkson was dead of a gunshot wound fired INSIDE HER MOUTH.

bukowski | 8/29/2007, 11:35 am EST

“NO ONE SHOOTS THE COW THAT GIVES FREE MILK.” You know, Joyce, I thought Spetor was guilty, but this argument has swayed me. You’re right he’s innocent!

antidolt | 8/29/2007, 1:00 pm EST

I think SPEC did it!!! Convict him and put him away to protect the public and provide justice to Clarkson’s family.

lisaj | 8/29/2007, 9:27 pm EST

GUILTY AS CHARGED.

Androvette | 8/30/2007, 12:52 am EST

The heck with the murder charge; he should get life because his funky hair is a nuisance to society.

Androvette | 8/30/2007, 12:54 am EST

However, when have you ever heard of anyone murdered because of a bullet hole Inside the mouth? It’s a first for me.

Candace | 8/30/2007, 1:37 am EST

Guilty! Guilty! Guilty! Guilty!
Guilty! Guilty! Guilty! Guilty!
Guilty! Guilty! Guilty! Guilty!

Teresa | 8/30/2007, 2:52 am EST

I agree with Joyce and Bukowski : Phil Spector is innocent. Maybe ha has a collection of weapons and maybe he used to point a gun to some people but during all these years he didn’t kill anyone not John Lennon, not Leonard Cohen,not any of those women who came to the trial to testify that Phil Spector once threatened them with a gun. FREE PHIL SPECTOR.

gioconda | 8/30/2007, 3:21 am EST

I am stunned by the deep hatred of women revealed in the comments on this site.

Not worth comments in Spector vs Cali murder2 re: evidence.

Review the facts. Phil Spector killed Lana Clarkson. He confessed to the crime several times.

To the driver.

To the police.

All documented.

Due to complex legal machinations, not done in a text message, his lawyers have been offering alternatives.

He confessed.

Once, twice, three times.

Read the documents.

peter | 8/30/2007, 3:37 am EST

the only hatred of women on this site is the hatred you are imagining gioconda

Teresa | 8/30/2007, 6:26 am EST

The woman commited suicide and Phil Spector ran outside saying : I think I killed someone. Maybe it’s what he said or maybe it was : I think someone’s killed. Anyway I suppose when someone dies in your house you don’t think rationel. Once arrested Phil Spector didn’t stop claiming his innocence. As I don’t take people for criminals or liars I still consider Phil Spector as innocent. FREE PHIL SPECTOR.

Candace | 8/30/2007, 9:05 am EST

DeSouza says spector was holding a bloody gun in a bloody hand and that he said, “I think I killed somebody.” Blood was found in his pants pocket. No fewer than 5 women have said he has threatened them with guns. He is quoted as saying that women deserve to be shot in the head. Clarkson was killed by an “intra-oral” wound to the back of her throat. I suspect Phil would have had more blood on his jacket if his fist had not acted as a cork. Lock him up and throw away the key.

Coltran45 | 8/30/2007, 8:02 pm EST

Judge Larry Fidler should have kept his thumb off the scales of justice and let Bruce Cutler brucify these stupid string of female witnesses who were too dopey to press charges against Phil Spector for alleged wrongdoing and instead stayed in the same dysfunctional relationship with Phil for years and years after and allowed him from time to time to put a gun up to their heads but NOT shoot them. Also this evidence may prove the opposite – that Phil does not kill his women as all these women are still alive.

However in the Hollywood Hills on Christmas Eve 2001 Lana Clarkson made the distinction of breaking both her own wrists by herself in front of others on christmas eve 2001- before Phil Spector had ever arrived in her
self- inflicted-harm picture
Lana breaking both her wrists was categorized as an “accident”
And there were witnesses to Lana Clarkson’s broken wrists which she broke herself – and some of these witnesses i.e. David Stark and another by the name of Liverpool who were firemen/paramedics, rushed Lana to the Cedars Sinai hospital in 2001 and gave her the drug morphine to ease her pain.
Because of this prior self inflicted harm by Lana Clarkson upon herself in that she broke her wrists by herself before she knew Phil Spector- I don’t believe Phil Spector should be found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt
Because if Lana inflicted serious harm upon herself i.e. two broken wrists only a year before she ever knew Phil Spector and before Lana ever took a huge risk in going home with Phil Spector at 2 am in a black slip in Feb 2003, there is a higher probability that Lana inflicted serious harm upon herself again in 2003 on Phil Spector’s time.
The parade of Phil Spector’s ex girlfriends and their testimony may just be a diversion and red herring fallacy to take the emphasis away from the “accident” prone Lana Clarkson and the problems that she was having through harming herself.

antidolt | 8/30/2007, 8:47 pm EST

I admire Judge Fidler’s unbiased handling of this case. The prosecution too has behaved admirably. Too bad the defense did not have a defendent/witness to put on the stand to testify that he only wanted to shoot women in the head …………..with love.

Teresa | 8/31/2007, 2:56 am EST

During a period of 30 years or more Phil Spector used to point guns but never killed anyone. There was no reason to kill Lana Clarkson; I suppose he just wanted to spend a night with her.
Phil Spector is innocent, he never killed anyone.

antidolt | 8/31/2007, 11:43 am EST

Old psycho’s tools for scoring with the ladies: tequila, viagra, and a loaded .38 snub-nose special.

Coltran45 | 8/31/2007, 8:50 pm EST

Spector’s chauffeur Adriano DeSousa was working illegally in US without a work permit on Feb 3 2003.

Spector’s chauffeur Adriano De Sousa has testified to what he thought Spector said to him immediately after Lana’s death.

But it is possible that Adriano is not telling the truth so he would not be arrested for murder or deported and Adriano may have not told the truth in the hope of appeasing the US authorities and throwing the scent elsewhere because Adriano did not have a work permit to work in US and did not want to be deported.

Because of these factors Adriano De Sousa has more motivation than most people who are citizens in US to lie as De Sousa had much to gain from this tragic event – such as possibly a green card to stay in USA.

Also since Feb 2003 De Sousa has not had any independence from the California authorities or power as he is not a resident of US. And thus the Chauffeur Adriano De Sousa can be used by the California Prosecution like a puppet to say things against Phil Spector which may very well be a pile of crap.

Also De Souza was extremely inconsistent in his testimony when he said that Phil Spector did not know his name when Phil Spector obviously did know Adriano’s name as Adriano mimicked Spector in the court saying “Adriano Adriano take me to the grill”

whatever one’s faith in De Sousa’s testimony Adriano certainly has motivation to lie to assist the prosecution to get a green card and to gain his US residency and not be deported. I personally don’t have alot of faith in Chauffeur Adriano De Sousa’s testimony.

antidolt | 8/31/2007, 9:06 pm EST

DeSouza told 911 operator and the police what Spector said to him. His story has been consistent from the beginning. Why didn’t Spector get on the stand and refute his testimony if it is incorrect???? He could also say how he only wanted to shoot women in the head with love & that there was no malice intended! Spector sure looks guilty to me – beyond ANY doubt whatsoever. Take the blinders off!!!

cc | 8/31/2007, 9:38 pm EST

De Souza has been consistent from the time he called the 911 operator. Spector could have taken the stand and refuted DeSouza’s testimony. He didn’t of course. (I might add that the physical evidence is also consistent with DeSouza’s testimony of Spector emerging from the house holding the bloody gun and saying, “I think I killed somebody.” ) I think Spector is guilty of MURDER

Tim | 8/31/2007, 10:35 pm EST

I only wish Teresa was on the jury. Unfortunately, the prosecution would have bumped her after finding out that she was on OJ’s.

Coltran45 | 9/2/2007, 12:19 pm EST

De Souza was consistent in “his” story once he decided he needed to come clean and call the police but De Sousa is an illegal in US for working. By law Spector is not required to take the stand and refuted DeSouza’s testimony and the law does not penalize Spector for not taking the stand. The physical evidence of Lana Clarkson breaking both her wrists before she ever met Phil Spector may mean that she “accidentally” harmed herself again and killed herself

and DeSouza’s falseness in working in the US illegally may mean that we cannot believe him at all.

antidolt | 9/2/2007, 3:54 pm EST

I think most people find Mr. DeSouza a most credible eye-witness. Whether Spector’s paid witnesses have created reasonable doubt in the minds of the jury remains to be seen. I, for one, will continue to believe Spector guilty of the death of Ms. Clarkson irrespective of the jury’s verdict.

cc | 9/2/2007, 4:34 pm EST

Spector was not required to get on the stand and give testimony at his trial for murder, but he certainly had the option of testifying and he DECLINED to do so. Given Spector’s alleged history of holding women at gunpoint ( 5 victim/witnesses) and his failure to call 911, together with the testimony of eyewitness DeSouza, to whom Spector allegedly confessed guilt, I am convinced of his guilt.

Teresa | 9/3/2007, 3:15 am EST

I don’t live in the United States and I’ve never been there, that’s why I’m surely more objective. I only consider the facts and in the U.S. they don’t stop talking about his house, his look, his money, his character. Nothing proves to me he’s guily so he is innocent. FREE PHIL SPECTOR.

CC | 9/3/2007, 11:24 am EST

Spector allegedly killed Lana Clarkson nearly 5 years ago. He has been free on a million dollars bail most of that time. Justice has been delayed in this case far too long. Lock him up already

TexasChic | 9/4/2007, 1:17 pm EST

Hey Teresa, You dont live here, have never visited here. Isn’t America wonderful that we have free speech. Even for outsiders.

Teresa | 9/5/2007, 2:51 am EST

America is surely wonderful; all people even those who don’t live there have the opportunity to say their opinion. Phil Spector is innocent and I hope the trial will have a happy end. Good luck to you Phil Spector, your fans all over the world love you.

CC | 9/5/2007, 2:31 pm EST

Phil Spector surely looks guilty of pistol-whipping, trying to rape at gunpoit and of threatening to blow women’s brains out as well as murdering Ms. Clarkson. May justice be served. (P.S. I don’t love you Mr. Spector. I pity you.)

Dee | 9/5/2007, 10:00 pm EST

Let’s see:

1. Five women who knew Phil Spector over the years testify that he pulled a gun and threatened to shoot them.

2. Finally, a woman ends up dead in his foyer, shot by one of his guns, and he’s got her blood on him.

3. His chauffeur testifies that Spector came out that night, bloody and holding the gun, and telling him that he just killed someone.

Yeah, if you add all that up, it’s so obvious that it was all Lana Clarkson’s doing. Suuure.

Teresa | 9/6/2007, 2:51 am EST

As far as I know those five women are still alive and Leonard Cohen also. It’s not Phil Spector who killed John Lennon or 2 members of the Ramones. Which means that Phil Spector never killed anyone before so why kill Lana Clarkson?
He surely took this woman to his house because he wanted to spend a nice evening with her.

Record Producer | 9/8/2007, 11:22 pm EST

Give me your tired and your poor hostess and I will introduce her to my sex pistol!

Antidolt | 9/20/2007, 1:32 am EST

Unfortunately the Neanderthals are still among us who don’t understand that no means no. These developmental retards think it is alright to club a woman or pull a gun on her to force her to comply with their one-sided wishes. Developing some lovable qualities is not an option. Therefore, it is much better that these throwbacks to the stone age practice safe sex and make themselves at home – alone. If they don’t, they are likely to find themselves defendants in criminal trials and defendants in protracted litigation – when not serving time in prison.

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