Spector defence reject lesser charges

Phil Spector's lawyers have asked a judge to tell US jurors they must find the record producer either guilty or not guilty of murder with no option to find lesser offences such as voluntary or involuntary manslaughter in the death of actress Lana Clarkson.

"It is the prosecution's position that Mr. Spector was the shooter and that he therefore is guilty of an offence no less serious than that of second-degree murder," said the defence motion filed yesterday in Los Angeles.

"It is the defence position that Mr Spector did not fire the shot and thus is guilty of no crime whatsoever."

Superior Court Judge Larry Paul Fidler scheduled a session with lawyers today to discuss the crucial issue of jury instructions.

Testimony in the case ended on Monday and final arguments are set for September 5-6.

The defence brief, written by San Francisco lawyer Dennis Riordan, who has come into the case to handle the instructions, argues for an all-or-nothing verdict.

They say the law does not allow a fallback position to "lesser included offences".

Late yesterday, Rachelle Spector announced her husband had hired Riordan to replace former lead counsel Bruce Cutler as chief of the defence team.

Cutler abruptly left the case on Monday in a dispute with Spector regarding which lawyer would do closing arguments.