Phil Spector Too Far to Shoot

Phil Spector was standing two feet away from the woman he is accused of murdering when she was shot dead, a court heard yesterday (21.06.07). Sheriff's Department criminologist Lynn Herold testified blood spattered on the producer's white jacket suggested he was standing to the right of Lana Clarkson with his arms raised when the gun went off at his Los Angeles mansion on February 3, 2003.

Spector's defence team argue that Clarkson, 40, accidentally shot herself in the mouth with the .38 caliber revolver found at her feet. Herold showed the jury magnified images of Spector's woollen jacket showing the tiny "mist-like" blood spots on the front, back and left sleeve cuff. The photographs - which were magnified 60 times - showed "that piece of fabric was within two to three feet of the bloodletting event".

Prosecuting lawyer Alan Jackson said: "In other words, two to three feet from Miss Clarkson's face?" The witness replied: "Yes". Herold added Spector's "arms had to be raised so the spatter could get on the back".

The expert also suggested bloodstains on Spector's pants could have come from him putting the gun in the pockets. She said: "Something bloody came in contact with the inside of the left pants pocket."

The defence maintains the "barely" visible blood spots suggest Spector, 67, was too far away from Clarkson to have shot her.

• Jury Failed to Determine Phil Spector's Fate Again
• Jury in Phil Spector's Case May Not Find Him Guilty
• Jury in Phil Spector's Case Reached a Deadlock
• Jurors Began Deliberating Phil Spector's Verdict
• Phil Spector Not Moved by Lana Clarkson's Footage

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