Spector’s lawyer attacks experts in closing argument

PROSECUTORS closed their case against music producer Phil Spector with sarcastic attacks on his team’s scientific experts and called on Los Angeles jurors to do justice for the actress found shot to death in his US home.

Prosecutor Alan Jackson yesterday accused the defence of using Spector’s money to “buy” scientific opinions, calling witnesses who sought the limelight, and dragging actress Lana Clarkson’s reputation through the mud.

Defence lawyer Linda Kenney-Baden was expected to take up most of last night’s court session with her closing arguments. The case is expected to go to the jury today.

Spector, the 67-year-old producer of hit records, is accused of second-degree murder in the death of Clarkson, 40, who died of a gunshot while seated in the foyer of his home at about 5am on February 3, 2003.

Kenney-Baden was expected to argue that science proves Spector, who is accused of second-degree murder, was standing too far away from her to have been the shooter.

Spector remained intent on having Kenney-Baden deliver the closing summation despite warnings by Superior Court Judge Larry Fidler. Fidler said Spector was taking a risk by having her deliver the argument, because she was absent for a large part of the defence case while ill.

Kenney-Baden was criticised in Jackson’s own summation yesterday because her husband, forensic expert Michael Baden, testified for the defence. Jackson suggested Baden tailored his testimony to help his wife win and suggested he and other scientific witnesses were hired guns who would say anything for money.

After the summation for the defence, a second prosecutor, Pat Dixon, was to present the prosecution’s closing argument.