Judge declares mistrial in Phil Spector murder case

LOS ANGELES ” The murder trial of music producer Phil Spector ended in a mistrial Wednesday because of a deadlocked jury.

All jurors told Superior Court Judge Larry Paul Fidler they could not reach a verdict.

“At this time, I will find that the jury is unable to arrive at a verdict and declare a mistrial in this matter,” the judge said.

The mistrial came on the 12th day of deliberations on whether Spector murdered actress Lana Clarkson more than 41/2 years ago.

The foreman reported the panel was deadlocked 10 to 2 but did not indicate which way it was leaning. The jury reported a 7-5 impasse last week and had resumed deliberations with modified instructions.

Spector, 67, is charged with second-degree murder. Clarkson, 40, died when a gun went off in her mouth as she sat in a chair in the foyer of Spector’s Alhambra mansion about 5 a.m. on Feb. 3, 2003. She had met Spector just a few hours earlier at her job as a nightclub hostess and went home with him for a drink after work.