Spector judge decides against directing hung jury

The judge presiding in the murder trial of music producer Phil Spector decided today he would not allow the hung jury to consider a lesser charge of manslaughter.

“I do accept that it would be inappropriate at this time to instruct the jury with a new offence, that being the lesser offence of manslaughter, because I believe it’s basically directing them, if at all possible, that’s what they should find. And that is inappropriate,” Superior Court Judge Larry Paul Fidler told lawyers.