Jurors' Rapport Swung Spector Conviction: Lawyers

(NEWSER) - A Los Angeles jury today convicted eccentric music producer Phil Spector of second-degree murder in the death of actress Lana Clarkson, the Los Angeles Times reports. Spector, 69, faces at least 18 years in prison for killing 40-year-old Clarkson, who was found with a gunshot wound to the mouth in Spector's mansion 6 years ago. Prosecutors said Spector often threatened women with guns; the defense called Clarkson's death a suicide. More»

Judge declares mistrial as 2 jurors hold out against majority

(NEWSER) - Jurors announced a 10 to 2 deadlock in the Phil Spector trial today after more than 2 weeks of deliberations, sparking the judge to declare a mistrial. The jury was split more evenly a week ago, and did not reveal the position of its 2 holdouts. As Spector went home, prosecutors vowed to seek a new trial in the 2003 murder of actress Lana Clarkson, the BBC reports. More»

Juror tweeted throughout trial, raising risk of prejudice: Arkansas Supreme Court

(NEWSER) - A mere 140 characters has led to quite the mess in Arkansas. The state's Supreme Court ruled yesterday that a 26-year-old death row inmate receive a new trial because a juror tweeted throughout his first one. Though a lower court found Erickson Dimas-Martinez "suffered no prejudice," an associate justice yesterday wrote that "prejudice results from the fact that the juror admitted to the misconduct, which proves that he failed to follow the court's instructions, and it is the failure to follow the law that prejudiced Appellant." A sample tweet from juror Randy Franco: "Choices to be made. Hearts to be broken. We each define the great line." More»

(NEWSER) - A Los Angeles judge today sentenced Phil Spector to 19 years to life in prison in the 2003 shooting death of actress Lana Clarkson. The legendary music producer, whose first trial in the case ended in a mistrial, plans to appeal, KTLA-TV reports. Spector, 69, listened impassively as he drew the mandatory minimum of 15 years to life for second-degree murder, plus 4 years on a gun charge. More»

Music producer could get lesser manslaughter charge

(NEWSER) - Attorneys begin closing arguments today in the second murder trial of music producer Phil Spector—proceedings which drew little attention after a media frenzy surrounding the first, which ended with a hung jury, the AP reports. Spector, 69, faces a second-degree charge in the 2003 death of actress Lana Clarkson, but Friday, a Los Angeles judge said Spector could also be convicted of the lesser charge of manslaughter. More»