The judge in Phil Spector’s murder trial yesterday decided against allowing the deadlocked jury to consider a lesser charge against the legendary producer, a day after holding out that possibility in the sensational case.
“It would be inappropriate at this time to instruct a jury to a new offense,” said Los Angeles Superior Court judge Larry Fidler.
The ruling means the jury will return today for its eighth day of deliberations.
The decision came a day after the five-month-long trial was thrown into chaos when jurors said they were hopelessly stuck and the judge said he’d think about allowing them to consider an involuntary-manslaughter charge as well as second-degree murder.
At least five of the 12 jurors have indicated they would vote to acquit Spector of murder.
Spector, 67, faces 15 years to life in prison if convicted of fatally shooting B-movie actress Lana Clarkson at his L.A.- area mansion in February 2003.
With Post Wire Services