LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Famed music producer Phil Spector at first told police he accidentally shot B-movie actress Lana Clarkson to death at his home in February 2003, contrary to his later claim that she committed suicide, newly released transcripts of grand jury testimony show.






Five volumes of grand jury testimony were released late Thursday after the Los Angeles Times and other news organizations mounted a successful legal challenge against defense efforts to keep them sealed.


Beatrice Rodriguez, a police officer dispatched to Spector's mansion in a Los Angeles suburb, said that when she arrived, the 64-year-old music producer said, ".... I didn't mean to shoot her. It was an accident."


Spector's driver, Adriano De Souza, told the grand jury that about three minutes after he heard a shot inside the house and called police, Spector came out holding a gun and told him, "I think I killed somebody."


He said that when asked for more details, Spector shrugged his shoulders and did not say anything.


Three women also testified that in various circumstances, ranging from a house party to a visit to his home, Spector had threatened them with a gun.


Spector, famed for his "Wall of Sound" productions for such stars as the Beatles and Ike and Tina Turner (news), is charged with murdering Clarkson, 40, on Feb. 3, 2003 after picking her up at the Los Angeles nightclub where she worked as a hostess. Now free on $1 million bail, he faces life in prison if convicted.


He has subsequently claimed in an Esquire magazine interview that Clarkson shot herself to death. The actress died of a single bullet wound to her head.

Really? Never woulda thunkit.

VoicesCarry said:

Me neither. I was in total shock.

who knew?!

Does make you wonder why the artists he worked with were so dedicated...

He didn't seal all the exits off you know.

this is old, isnt it?

sosgemini said:

There could be an MJ thread here.

subhuman09 said:

no, im being serious though..why is the news barely picking up on this? i noticed its on the front pages of cnn and yahoo news..but this transcript came out right after he was jailed.....silly news people...must be a slow day.

How sad. The poor guy was off his nut for most of his life--not too long before the murder he was in the British press saying that if he wasn't on medication his swarm of belfry bats would start flappin up a storm.

Still, you gotta give the guy credit for adding that oh-so-Hollywood touch to his later story: "and she kissed the gun right before she blew her brains out."

Man, classic noir.