A Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge threw the book at convicted murderer and music legend, Phil Spector, today. Judge Larry Paul Fidler sentenced the 69-year-old Spector to 19 years-to-life, the maximum term. Last month, a jury convicted the eccentric music producer of second-degree murder in the death of 40-year-old Lana Clarkson.

The B-Movie actress of such films as “Barbarian Queen” (1985) was found shot to death in the foyer of Spector’s Alhambra mansion in 2003. Spector’s first trial ended in a mistrial when the jurors were not able to reach a verdict, after deadlocking 10-to-2 in favor of conviction.

Spector will not be eligible for parole until age 88. During today’s hearing, Spector’s lawyers reportedly gave Clarkson’s mother a check for $17,000 to pay for the actress’ funeral, which was part of the sentence. A sad end for all concerned. Clarkson’s life was cut short by an act of senseless violence; Spector’s fame and image forever tarnished by the crime.

Back in the 1960s, Spector created the landmark recording technique of layering multi-instrumental tracks to produce what has come to be known as the ”wall of sound” effect. Spector used it on such rock hits as “Be My Baby” by the Ronettes and “You’ve Lost that Loving Feelin’” by the Righteous Brothers. Spector was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989.

For a second time, the fate of legendary music producer Phil Spector is in the hands of a Los Angeles County jury today. The jury got the case yesterday after closing arguments wrapped up. The 12 jurors will decide if Spector murdered 40-year-old actress Lana Clarkson.

The cult film actress was found shot to death in the foyer of Spector’s Alhambra mansion in 2003. During the nearly five months of testimony in the retrial, the prosecution tried to prove an enraged Spector killed Clarkson when she tried to leave his place. Defense attorneys countered by claiming the evidence doesn’t support that finding and therefore, Spector should be acquitted.

The jury, made up of six men and six women, will consider second-degree murder, which carries a prison term of at least 15 years or a lesser charge of involuntary manslaughter with a penalty of two-to-four years behind bars.

In 2007, Spector first murder trial end in a mistrial, after the jury deadlocked 10-to-2 for conviction.

The fate of legendary rock producer Phil Spector will soon be in the hands of a Los Angeles County jury. Today the prosecution is expected to complete its rebuttal to the defense team’s closing arguments, which began on Tuesday.

Spector’s attorneys urged the jury to acquit their client on the grounds that the alleged victim, actress Lana Clarkson, probably committed suicide. Clarkson was found shot to death in the hallway of Spector’s Alhambra mansion in 2003. The prosecution claims an enraged Spector pulled the trigger of the .38 Special that killed the 40-year-old actress.

However, in his summation, Defense Attorney Doron Weinberg told the jurors more than a dozen pieces of forensic evidence point to Spector’s innocence. Weinberg said the big question is did the prosecution prove its case “… beyond a reasonable doubt?” Indeed, that is the key question the jury will have to answer during deliberations.

In 2007, the jury in the 69-year-old Spector’s first murder trial deadlocked 10-to-2 for a conviction, so a mistrial was declared. In the retrial, the music producer faces a minimum of 18 years in prison if found guilty of second degree murder, two-to-four years if convicted of involuntary manslaughter. 

After nearly five months of testimony, the murder retrial of rock legend Phil Spector is about to wrap up. Yesterday, the prosecution presented its closing arguments in an attempt to convince the jury to convict Spector of murdering 40-year-old actress Lana Clarkson.

The actress was found shot to death in Spector’s Alhambra mansion back in 2003. Clarkson starred in “Barbarian Queen” (1985) and the movie spoof “Amazon Women on the Moon” (1987).

Los Angeles Deputy District Attorney Truc Do called Spector a “demonic maniac” who was known to use a gun to play Russian Roulette with the lives of women he wanted to control. According to the Los Angeles Times website, The Deputy D.A. reminded jurors that several women had described Spector’s reckless and threatening behavior, a chauffeur testified Spector confessed to him, expert witnesses had noted blood was found on Spector’s jacket and that there were bruises on Clarkson’s wrist — evidence of a struggle.

The famous rock music producer is on trial for second degree murder; if convicted he faces at least 15 years in prison. Last Friday, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Larry Paul Fidler agreed to allow the jury to consider a lesser charge of involuntary manslaughter, which carries a penalty of two-to-four years behind bars.  

 In 2007, a mistrial was declared in Spector’s first trial after the jury deadlocked 10-to-2 in favor of conviction. In recent years, the 69-year-old Spector has been a recluse. He is famous for creating the recording technique dubbed the ”Wall of Sound,” back in the 1960s.

The defense team will get its chance to go before the jury with closing arguments today. Spector’s attorneys claim Clarkson’s death was a suicide. The jury is expected to begin deliberations by the end of the week.

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Today the defense takes center stage in the second murder trial of legendary music producer, Phil Spector. The trial has been trudging along quietly for several weeks in a downtown Los Angeles courtroom. The  prosecution has been laying out its case with detailed forensics and testimony from experts and witnesses.

Yesterday the prosecution’s final witness, the mother of Lana Clarkson, took the stand. Donna Clarkson insisted her daughter had future plans and job prospects and was not suicidal. On February 3, 2003 Clarkson, a “B movie” actress, was found with a fatal gun shot wound to the mouth in the foyer of Spector’s Alhambra mansion.

The prosecution is trying to convince the jury Spector pulled the trigger of the Colt Cobra revolver. The defense claims the 40-year-old actress took her own life. In 2007, Spector’s first murder trial ended in a mistrial when the jury could not reach a decision. The jurors were deadlocked 10-2 in favor of conviction. 

If found guilty of second degree murder, Spector faces at least 18 years in prison. The 68-year-old music wizard developed the ground breaking  ”wall of sound” technique of layering dense musical arrangements on recordings in the 1960s. Spector used this technique on such classic hits as “Be My Baby” (1963) by the Ronettes. Many artists including “The Beatles”, “The Beach Boys” and Bruce Springsteen have used the technique as well. 

Late Thursday, the defense began presenting its case and is expected to call witnesses today.

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Music legend Phil Spector’s second murder trial hit a bump on its second day. Actually, an alternate juror stumbled and reportedly broke his foot in the parking lot of a Downtown Los Angeles court Thursday morning. The prosecution had been scheduled to call witnesses yesterday, but Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Larry Paul Fidler decided to delay the trial until Monday.

The 68-year-old Spector is being retried in the death of actress Lana Clarkson. The 40-year-old actress was found shot to death in the hallway of Spector’s Alhambra mansion back in February of 2003.

In his opening statement on Wednesday, defense attorney Doron Weinberg argued Clarkson committed suicide. On the other side, prosecutor Alan Jackson claims Spector shot Clarkson, with a .38 Special pistol, for refusing his sexual advances.

Spector’s first murder trial, 13 months ago, ended with a jury deadlocked 10-2 for conviction. If he’s found guilty of second degree murder, Spector faces a prison term of at least 18 years.

Back in the 1960s, Spector became famous as a music producer for his full-bodied, hard rocking “Wall of Sound” technique heard on classics like “Be My Baby” by the Ronettes. The technique has been used by artists like The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, and Mariah Carey.

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Eccentric rock music legend Phil Spector is on trial for murder, for the second time, in Downtown Los Angeles. Spector is accused of shooting to death actress Lana Clarkson after she allegedly blew off his sexual advances during an encounter at his mansion in February of 2003. The first trial ended in a hung jury  — with the jurors deadlocked 10-to-2 for conviction.

 Yesterday, prosecutor Alan Jackson’s opening statement included details of Clarkson’s death and a long list of women whom he says have been threatened by a gun wielding Spector over the years.

Later, defense attorney Doron Weinberg claimed the 40-year-old actress was despondent and killed herself in the hallway of Spector’s mansion. Weinberg called it a “suicide.” The gun reportedly belonged to Spector.

Spector made his mark as a record producer. His claim to fame is the “Wall of Sound” effect. Spector created this effect back in the 1960s by corralling large numbers of musicians to play together to produce a booming, layered rock sound. The “Wall of Sound” effect can be heard on classic hits like the 1963 “Be My Baby” by the Ronettes and the 1965 “You’ve Lost that Lovin’ Feelin’ ” by the Righteous Brothers.

In his later years, the 68-year-old Spector became a recluse, hiding out in a pseudo-castle in the suburb of Alhambra. If convicted of second degree murder, Spector faces a sentence of around 20 years in prison.