On This Day: Jurors see the gun Phil Spector used to kill Lana Clarkson

Thursday, 5 June 2025 07:54

Once hailed as a revolutionary force in music, Phil Spector’s legacy was overshadowed by his 2003 arrest and eventual conviction for the murder of actress Lana Clarkson.

On June 5, 2007, jurors in the high-profile murder trial of record producer Phil Spector were presented with critical forensic evidence — the revolver found near the body of actress Lana Clarkson. The courtroom moment marked a turning point in a case that drew intense public and media scrutiny due to Spector’s storied music career and the violent circumstances of Clarkson’s death.

Lana Clarkson, 40, encountered Phil Spector just hours before her death while she was working as a hostess at the House of Blues in West Hollywood. Later that night, she went with him to his mansion in Alhambra, California, where she was found fatally shot in the early morning of February 3, 2003.

Prosecutors alleged that Spector shot Clarkson in the mouth with a .38-calibre revolver. They contended that he had a documented pattern of threatening women with firearms — evidence the prosecution introduced through multiple witness testimonies.

The presentation of the firearm and related crime scene photographs to the jury underscored the central argument of the prosecution: that Spector’s history of erratic and violent behavior ultimately culminated in Clarkson’s death. According to earlier testimony, Spector’s chauffeur reported that the producer emerged from the mansion shortly after the shooting, holding a gun and saying, “I think I killed somebody.”

Spector’s defense maintained that Clarkson died by suicide, and that the producer had no motive to harm her. The trial ended in a mistrial in September 2007, after the jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict. However, following a retrial in 2009, Spector was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 19 years to life in prison.

Prior to his legal troubles, Phil Spector was regarded as one of the most influential producers in pop music history. He pioneered the “Wall of Sound” technique, producing hits such as “Be My Baby” by The Ronettes and “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’” by The Righteous Brothers. He also worked closely with The Beatles, John Lennon, and George Harrison.

Spector died in prison on January 16, 2021, from complications related to COVID-19. His death marked the end of a complex legacy — one that reshaped popular music but was ultimately overshadowed by a fatal act of violence.

Notable Productions by Phil Spector

• The Ronettes: “Be My Baby,” “Baby, I Love You”

• The Righteous Brothers: “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’,” “Unchained Melody”

• Ike & Tina Turner: “River Deep – Mountain High”

• The Beatles (Let It Be): “The Long and Winding Road,” “Across the Universe”

• John Lennon: “Instant Karma!,” Imagine

• George Harrison: All Things Must Pass, “My Sweet Lord,” “What Is Life”

Spector’s legacy in music remains influential, though irrevocably complicated by his conviction and imprisonment.

Sources:

• Los Angeles Times

• CNN

• The New York Times