Mistrial declared in Spector case

Los Angeles -- A mistrial was declared Wednesday in the Los Angeles trial of music producer Phil Spector, charged in the shooting death of actress Lana Clarkson.

Deadlocked after 12 days of deliberations, the jury told Superior Court Judge Larry Paul Fidler it could not reach a verdict and was split 10-to-2 after six ballots, The Los Angeles Times reported. It was not immediately known which way the panel majority was leaning.

Fidler asked jurors if there was a possibility of reaching a verdict; each said no.
"We will try Phil Spector again," said Sandi Gibbons, a spokeswoman for Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley.

The 76-year-old music icon has been on trial since April for the 2003 shooting death of Clarkson, who was found shot in the face in the foyer of Spector's home.

The jury received the case Sept. 10 after listening to testimony of more than 70 witnesses. The panel said on Sept. 18 it was deadlocked, 7-to-5 -- prompting Fidler to withdraw jury instructions and give the jury new directions that court observers considered to be broader.

Prosecutors contended that Spector shot Clarkson. The defense countered Clarkson accidentally killed herself.

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Copyright 2007 by United Press International.