The Phil Spector jury, after 6 ballots, concludes that they are deadlocked at 10 and 2. Spector watched, leaning back, chin down, eyes fixed and unblinking. Mistrial for Phil! Once again, a celebrity gets into hot water and walks away relatively unscathed. Lana Clarkson -- pictured here, in an early appearances as a trophy wife in Fast Times at Ridgemont High -- didn't walk away at all. Her last minutes were spent in Phil......

After seven days of deliberation, word came from the Phil Spector jury today that they were deadlocked. But the judge isn't ready to let them go yet. Turns out the jury is hung 7 to 5. Either 5 people are saying that reasonable doubt exists that Spector didn't shoot Lana Clarkson, or 7 are. That's more doubt than many courtwatchers had expected. The judge asked the jurors if anything else might convince them to......

In her closing arguments, defense attorney Linda Kenney Baden showed a video montage of witnesses who said they couldn't put the gun in Phil Spector's hand. The defense is trying to convince the jury that Lana Clarkson, a marginally talented, fairly beautiful actress/model whose career was on the wane, left her crappy job at the House of Blues with the wealthy record producer late one night, got to his house, found a handgun and......

Michael Bay, the #11 box-office earning film director, testified for the prosecution in the Phil Spector trial Monday. His appearance sent a shock of excitement through the ice-cold courtroom; I swear even Dominick Dunne perked up. Michael Bay said he remembers Lana Clarkson. He knew her from his days directing videos and commercials for Propaganda, back when he was the kind of guy who had to direct TV ads instead of blowing shit up,......

Looks like a visit to the Pyrenees may be ahead for the jurors in the Spector trial -- Phil Spector's Pyrenees Castle, that is. The defense wants all 12 jurors (and 6 alternates) to come and see the room where Lana Clarkson died. But getting them there is complicated -- the judge will also come along, and the court reporter, and sheriffs deputies, not to mention the lawyers for both sides. If all the......

This week the prosecution rested its case against Phil Spector, who is accused of murdering Lana Clarkson on February 3, 2003 with a tidy shot to the head. And I do mean tidy: the "spatter" on Spector's jacket, which has been the focus of much testimony this week, consists of tiny spots, most smaller than a dime, many far littler. The defense spent the week putting forensics experts on the stand to contradict the......

Monday afternoon Punkin Pie's testimony dragged on as the prosecution demonstrated that her memory has more holes than a Stevie Nicks shawl. By the time she was able to recount exact conversations -- telling the court her best friend, Lana Clarkson, said in the weeks before her death: "I’m really sick of these people in this town. I hate this town. And I hate the people in it. And I don’t want to be......

To hear them tell it, Lana Clarkson had two best friends, Jen and Pie. Jennifer Hayes-Reidl (right) testified last week. Punkin Irene Elizabeth Laughlin, aka Punkin Pie, is testifying today. Why are both of her friends testifying on behalf of the defense? And why are they both so orange? After her near nip-slip appearance last week, Punkin Pie is in the courtroom with slightly better hair and a modest, cleavage-covering t-shirt. I was immediately......

The facts: Phil Spector, motherf***ingawesome record producer and somewhat legendary kook, is on trial for the 2003 murder of Lana Clarkson, a struggling actress. One Feburary night, Spector ended up at the House of Blues' VIP Room -- oh, sorry, "Foundation Room" -- where Clarkson was working. He picked her up, she went home with him, and about an hour later ended up with a bullet in her head. The prosecution says Phil Spector......

It's been far too long since Angelenos have been able to enjoy a proper media circus, and thats why starting March 19th, the Phil Spector murder trial is set to begin, televised for our viewing pleasure. After months of postponements and more than four years after actress Lana Clarkson was found dead from a gunshot wound in his Alhambra mansion, Spector will finally have his day in court. The sixty-six year old Spector achieved success......