The exact reason for the death of US rapper Kanye West’s mother shortly after plastic surgery could not be determined, but there was no sign of a “surgical or anaesthetic misadventure”, according to a coroner’s report.

Lawyers for record producer Phil Spector cannot immediately use what they claimed are diary-like writings of a suicidal vision taken from the computer of the woman Spector is accused of murdering, a clearly irritated judge ruled today.

The Phil Spector murder trial erupted in intense arguments outside the jury’s presence today over whether the defence can introduce a diary written by gunshot victim Lana Clarkson in which she wrote of her visions of a dead actress, depression over her acting career and fascination with guns.

THE barrel of a gun may have been forced into actress Lana Clarkson’s mouth, bruising her tongue before she was fatally shot, a coroner has testified in music producer Phil Spector’s murder trial.

The barrel of a gun may have been forced into actress Lana Clarkson’s mouth, bruising her tongue before the gunshot that killed her, a coroner said today in record producer Phil Spector’s murder trial.