Los Angeles – The jury in the Phil Spector murder trial believes it is unable to reach a verdict, Superior Court Judge Larry Paul Fidler announced Tuesday afternoon.
The jury, whose deliberations are in the seventh day, sent a note to the court announcing that it appeared to be hung, or unable to decide, on the issue of whether music producer Spector killed actress Lana Clarkson on Feb. 3, 2003.
Spector sat at the defense table where he has been a fixture for more than five months. He appeared stunned, his hands shaking as they have so many times before in the trial.
The defense asked for a mistrial, but Fidler rejected that move. The judge then said he would send the jury home to return today.
“It is possible I may give you further instructions tomorrow,” Fidler told the nine men and three women on the jury. He warned the jury that he might ask the lawyers to reargue a part of the instructions.
“Just set the case aside for the rest of the day,” he said and then dismissed them.
Fidler also set Thursday for legal arguments on whether to consider a lesser charge. The defense and prosecution both rejected any lesser charge, and Fidler concurred.
When Fidler brought the jury back, he questioned the foreman, juror 10, a civil engineer. The foreman said the jury was split 7-5 but wasn’t allowed to say what the position of the majority was.
“I believe it comes down to individual jurors,” the foreman said. “At this time, we don’t believe anything will change the positions of the jurors.”
Fidler then polled the jury.
At least three jurors indicated that something more might be done to force a verdict. They cited questions about reasonable doubt.
Spector is charged with shooting Clarkson, 40, hours after they met for the first time at the House of Blues in West Hollywood, where she was a hostess in the VIP area. If convicted, Spector, 67, could spend the rest of his life in prison.
The prosecution contends that Spector killed Clarkson with a single gunshot through the mouth. The defense has argued that Clarkson was depressed about her life and accidentally killed herself in the foyer of Spector’s mansion.
