LOS ANGELES (AP) — Prosecutors closed their case against Phil Spector with sarcastic attacks on his team’s scientific experts and called on jurors to do justice for the actress found shot to death in his home.
Prosecutor Alan Jackson on Wednesday accused the defense of using Spector’s money to “buy” scientific opinions, calling witnesses who sought the limelight, and dragging actress Lana Clarkson’s reputation through the mud.
Defense attorney Linda Kenney-Baden was expected to take up most of Thursday’s court session with her closing arguments. The jury is expected to get the case Friday.
Spector, the 67-year-old producer of hit records, is accused of second-degree murder in the death of Clarkson, 40, who died of a gunshot while seated in the foyer of his home at about 5 a.m. on Feb. 3, 2003.
Kenney-Baden was expected to argue that science proves Spector, who is accused of second-degree murder Clarkson’s death, was standing too far away from her to have been the shooter.
Spector remained intent on having Kenney-Baden deliver the closing summation despite warnings by Superior Court Judge Larry Paul Fidler. Fidler said the Spector was taking a risk by having her deliver the argument because she was absent for a large part of the defense case while ill.
Kenney-Baden received criticism in Jackson’s own summation Wednesday because her husband, forensic expert Michael Baden, testified for the defense.
Jackson suggested Baden tailored his testimony to help his wife win and suggested he and other scientific witnesses were hired guns who would say anything for money.
“You hire enough lawyers to hire enough experts. If you pay someone enough money you can get them to wear a tutu in court. You can get them to say just about anything in court,” Jackson said.
Countering the defense claim that Clarkson was depressed and killed herself, Jackson ended his presentation with video excerpts from a self-produced video which Clarkson tried to use to market her talents.
“This is Lana Clarkson,” announced Jackson, in the tone of an emcee introducing a star.
The video had been introduced in evidence by the defense to show how desperately Clarkson pursued fame, only to be meet with rejection. Jackson showed segments emphasizing the actress’ beauty and ebullience.
He also presented footage of his strongest witnesses — the five women who spoke of Spector drinking and pulling a gun on them and the chauffeur who delivered Clarkson and Spector to his mansion on the fateful night.
After Kenney-Baden’s summation for the defense, a second prosecutor, Pat Dixon, was to present the prosecution’s wrap-up argument before the case goes to the jury.
Credit: AP