Prosecution Rests In Phil Spector Case Retrial

The prosecution rested its case yesterday (January 22) in the murder retrial of famed music producer Phil Spector.

Following nine weeks of testimony, the prosecution called its final witness to the stand - Donna Clarkson - the mother of actress Lana Clarkson who died of a gunshot wound at Spector's home in 2003.

Clarkson testified that she and her daughter had spent her last day shopping for shoes together, and said that she planned to revive her acting career.
Spector - the pioneer behind the Wall Of Sound technique - is accused of murdering Clarkson at his Los Angeles mansion on February 3, 2003.

Defence attorneys are alleging that she took her own life because she was despondent over her waning career, while prosecution is making the case that Spector shot the actress.

The facts presented in the retrial have been similar to those in the original 2007 trial, which ended in a mistrial after the jury reached a 10-2 deadlock in favour of convicting Spector.

Spector's attorney, Doron Weinberg, intends to begin the defence case on Monday (January 26). He said that it should take about three weeks to make his case, reports the Associated Press.

The 69-year-old producer, who is free on $1 million bail, was present in court today with his wife, Rachelle.