LOS ANGELES — The murder trial of music producer Phil Spector ended in a mistrial Wednesday because of a deadlocked jury.
The mistrial came on the 12th day of deliberations on whether Spector murdered actress Lana Clarkson more than 4½ years ago. The 12-member panel had heard about five months of testimony.
The jury foreman reported the panel was deadlocked 10 to 2 but did not indicate which way it was leaning. The jury reported a 7-5 impasse last week and had resumed deliberations with modified instructions.
“At this time, I will find that the jury is unable to arrive at a verdict and declare a mistrial in this matter,” Superior Court Judge Larry Paul Fidler said.
Spector, 67, is charged with second-degree murder. Clarkson, 40, died when a gun went off in her mouth as she sat in a chair in the foyer of Spector’s Alhambra mansion about 5 a.m. on Feb. 3, 2003. She had met Spector just a few hours earlier at her job as a nightclub hostess and went home with him for a drink after work.
The defense contended throughout the trial that Clarkson had personal problems and died of a self-inflicted wound that was an accident or a suicide.
Prosecutors presented Spector’s chauffeur, who said that he heard a “pow” and that Spector then came outside with a gun in his hand and stated: “I think I killed somebody.”
In a sideshow to the deliberations, authorities had said Tuesday they were investigating a possible threat to the trial judge that was posted on the Internet.
The MySpace.com posting contained the phrases “I love Phil Spector” and “The Evil Judge should DIE!!!!”
The page was later taken down, Superior Court spokesman Allan Parachini said.
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