It’s All Maya!

If you know anything about the first trial against the rock music producer, Phil Spector, for the murder of Lana Clarkson, then you know that the trial lasted from April until September 2007 and ended in a hung jury.  After five months of testimony and forensic evidence being battled upon, the jury announced that they were deadlocked with ten jurors for guilty and two for not guilty.  Judge Larry Fidler declared a mistrial in the murder case, but thank goodness the prosecutors decided on retrying Spector as soon as possible.

Spector the creator of the “Wall of Sound” has produced some of the most classic rock music of all time.  From the Crystals’ Da Doo Ron Ron to the Ronettes, Be My Baby and from the Righteous Brothers’ You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin to John Lennon’s Imagine, Phil Spector was a powerhouse in music.

The ever eccentric Spector sometimes looked bored, sometimes slept through the proceedings as though the murder of the beautiful actress just happened to be an inconvience in his life.  Spector met Lana Clarkson on Feb. 3, 2003 where the wanna be star was working at the famous House of Blues as a hostess.  After the club closed Spector invited Clarkson to his mansion for a drink.  Clarkson refused several time, but finally accepted and was chauffeured back to the Alhambra Castle with Spector for a nightcap.  Three hours later, she was dead.

According to the chauffeur, he heard a gun shot fired while sitting in the limo.  He got out to investigate as Spector came out of the house holding the bloodied gun in his hand and said, “I think I killed somebody.”  The chauffeur called 911 while Spector returned to the scene of the crime, wiped the gun and placed it next to Lana Clarkson’s body.  He proceeded to wash up before the police arrived.

The defense claimed that Clarkson committed suicide in Spector’s home shooting herself in the mouth because she was depressed that her career had failed, and that turning 40 she realized her big break never came. 

The prosecution, however, had five women testify that they too had gone to Spector’s home on various occasions and he had pulled a gun on them as well and had threatened to kill them if they tried to leave.

Anyone watching the trial and hearing the evidence could see how ludicrous it was to think that Lana Clarkson decided to committ suicide at the home of a stranger when she didn’t even know if he owned a gun.  More importantly why would she be in the foyer with her purse on her shoulder near the front door and think, Hmm, maybe I should look for a gun, put it in my mouth, and shoot myself!

Of course Linda Kenney-Baden, Michael Baden, Dr. Henry Lee and a host of other famous experts in their field were there to support Spector in his first trial when it was front and center in the public eye and the money was there to pay the princely sums that they demanded!  They couldn’t give a damn if the person is as guilty as hell; as long as they get paid!  However, when the money was no longer available, they all abandoned ship!  Now that the spotlight has gone over to the Caylee Anthony murder, of course you have these same experts scurrying over to the new trial for a big slice of the cheese!  (Does anyone smell a rat or two?)

Maya Muses:  My hat is off to one of the best lead prosecutors I’ve ever seen, Alan Jackson.  This time the retrial began in October 2008 and went to the jury on March 27, 2009.  On April 13, after 30 hours of deliberation, the jury came back with a guilty verdict for second-degree murder!  Finally, one Hollywood celebrity is found guilty for the crime he committed!!!

Photo Credits:  Google Images