Killer may have forced barrel of gun into mouth of victim

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 bruise is very unique and is consistent with blunt-force trauma. Something struck the tongue,” said Dr Louis Pena.

Dr Pena also testified that there were bruises on Ms Clarkson’s right arm and wrist. Dr Pena called Ms Clarkson’s death a homicide, and he described the actress as a hopeful person with no history of depression or suicide attempts. Spector, 67, is accused of shooting Ms Clarkson, 40, in February 2003 after she agreed to accompany him to his mansion from her job as a hostess at the House of Blues on the Sunset Strip. The defence claims that Ms Clarkson committed suicide by placing the gun in her own mouth and pulling the trigger.