Legal News

Phil Spector Gets 19 Years in Prison

By Ashby Jones

The man behind the “wall of sound” style of pop-music production will spend a long time behind walls of cinder-block. Phil Spector was sentenced earlier Friday to 19 years in prison for the murder of actress Lana Clarkson, who was shot in the mouth at Spector’s home six years ago. Click here for the AP story.

According to the AP, Spector, looking as hale and hearty as ever, looked straight forward and showed no emotion as Superior Court Judge Larry Paul Fidler ordered a term of 15 years to life for second-degree murder plus four years for personal use of a gun.

Spector, 69, was led away immediately. His attorney asked that he be transferred immediately from county jail to a state prison. It was not immediately known to which prison Spector would be assigned.

Spector’s son Louis, also came to the sentencing. He had attended much of the trial. “I’m torn about this,” he said. “I’m losing my father who is going to spend his life in jail. At the same time, justice is served.”

Spector’s lawyer, Doron Weinberg, told reporters that the appeal will be extremely strong.

“Mr. Spector did not kill Lana Clarkson,” he said, “and we hope by the time we are through we will be able to prove that.”

For more on Spector, we strongly encourage you to check out WSJ music writer Jim Fusilli’s piece from March, shortly after he was convicted. Writes Fusilli:

In some circles, Mr. Spector’s disregard for gun safety was as legendary as his productions. He greeted guests at his home wearing a .38 in a shoulder holster. . . . Celebrities were treated to similar shenanigans. According to Mr. Brown’s biography, Mr. Spector, weapon in hand, locked the door to his Beverly Hills mansion behind Michelle Phillips of the Mamas and the Papas, refusing to let her leave. Mr. Brown also reports that Mr. Spector was wearing a handgun in 1973 when he attended the Ali-Norton fight at the L.A. Forum in a group that included Bob Dylan, Neil Diamond and James Taylor; later that night, when he was introduced to Frank Sinatra at Trader Vic’s, he was still wearing the gun. Once he pulled a gun in a studio at the Record Plant and accidentally fired it; the bullet somehow missed Lennon. On another occasion, a drunken Mr. Spector pressed the muzzle of a gun against Leonard Cohen’s neck. “Leonard, I love you,” he said. Nudging the barrel aside, Mr. Cohen replied: “I hope you do, Phil.”

Full post as published by Law Blog - WSJ.com on May 29, 2009 (boomark / email).