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Phil Spector jailed for 19 years | Phil Spector jailed for 19 years |
(20 minutes later) | |
US music producer Phil Spector has been jailed for at least 19 years for murdering an actress in 2003. | |
The producer, 69, famed for his Wall of Sound recording technique, was last month found guilty of shooting Lana Clarkson at his California home. | The producer, 69, famed for his Wall of Sound recording technique, was last month found guilty of shooting Lana Clarkson at his California home. |
Spector had pleaded not guilty to the second-degree murder during the five-month retrial in Los Angeles. His lawyers said he would appeal. | Spector had pleaded not guilty to the second-degree murder during the five-month retrial in Los Angeles. His lawyers said he would appeal. |
Ms Clarkson was best known for her role in 1985 cult film Barbarian Queen. | Ms Clarkson was best known for her role in 1985 cult film Barbarian Queen. |
On Friday, Spector was given a sentence of 15 years to life for second-degree murder and an additional four years for personal use of a gun. | On Friday, Spector was given a sentence of 15 years to life for second-degree murder and an additional four years for personal use of a gun. |
The presiding judge at the court in Los Angeles said Spector must serve at least 19 years before being eligible for parole - by which time he will be 88 years old. | |
Spector was given a retrial after the jury in his original trial failed to reach a unanimous decision in 2007. | |
Prolific career | Prolific career |
Spector sat motionless in court in Los Angeles, his eyelids drooping slightly, as the sentence was read out, the BBC's Rajesh Mirchandani reports. | |
Lana Clarkson appeared in cult 1980s film Barbarian Queen | Lana Clarkson appeared in cult 1980s film Barbarian Queen |
There were few surprises, our correspondent says. The crime of second-degree murder of which he was convicted carries a minimum penalty of 15 years in prison, with a maximum of life. | |
He denied all along that he was responsible for the death of Lana Clarkson, whom he had met in a bar, but the jury decided he had shot her in the mouth at his mansion near Los Angeles. | |
Before sentencing, the victim's mother, Donna, gave a statement to the court, saying: "My beautiful daughter, I miss you so." | |
Phil Spector's work as a music producer influenced millions. | |
He invented the Wall of Sound and created some of the most memorable pop hits of the 1960s for acts like Tina Turner, the Ronettes and the Righteous Brothers. | |
But for all his musical genius, Spector had a dark side. | But for all his musical genius, Spector had a dark side. |
He was often described as being a bully in the studio, a man with a liking for guns and an eccentric personality. | He was often described as being a bully in the studio, a man with a liking for guns and an eccentric personality. |
During the five-month retrial, five female acquaintances testified that Spector had threatened them at gunpoint in incidents dating back to the 1970s. | During the five-month retrial, five female acquaintances testified that Spector had threatened them at gunpoint in incidents dating back to the 1970s. |
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