Spector lawyer: I don't have fingernail evidence

The lawyer for record producer Phil Spector – accused of murdering actress Lana Clarkson – has denied being in possession of a piece of fingernail alleged to have been found at the murder scene and requested by prosecutors in the murder case.

Leslie Abramson told Superior Court Judge Carlos Uranga that even if she had the evidence the law did not require the defence to give prosecutors anything found after investigators left Spector’s mansion, where Clarkson died in a fatal shooting.

In a heated debate in the Alhambra, California, court, Deputy District Attorney Douglas Sortino declared: “If there is a piece of evidence, we’re entitled to it.”

The judge at first said he was going to order the defence to give prosecutors the requested evidence, but after a private meeting with attorneys, put off a final ruling until another hearing set for May 21.

The judge said he wanted to hear testimony on where the evidence was found and by whom.

Abramson told reporters testimony from forensic expert Henry Lee should clear up the situation.

Spector, famous for creating the Wall of Sound recording technique, is charged with murdering Clarkson on February 2, 2003. He remains free on bail. Spector has told Esquire Magazine he is innocent and suggested the actress shot herself.

Abramson, who took over Spector’s defence from Robert Shapiro early this month, said outside court that she has no fingernail.

“I have told the judge and the D.A. that we do not have the piece of nail,” she said. “They don’t want to hear that. We are not holding any evidence.”

She also said she may move to disqualify the district attorney’s office, stating the defence believes prosecutors “sent a spy” into their camp to influence the case.

The reference was to Stan White, a retired homicide detective who went to work as an investigator for Spector’s defence. Prosecutors said during a conversation with a homicide detective that he confided the defence team had found a piece of fingernail.