THE US:A Los Angeles judge declared a mistrial in the trial of pioneering rock producer Phil Spector last night after jurors said for a second time that they were unable to reach a verdict.
Superior Court judge Larry Paul Fidler declared a mistrial after the panel told him they were still deadlocked on a charge of second-degree murder against Spector.
The jury foreman said the panel was hung, 10-2, after six ballots, but did not give further information about the nature of the split. He said there was nothing further that could be done to reach a verdict.
"At this time, I will find the jury is unable to declare a verdict in this matter and I will declare a mistrial in this matter," Fidler said as Spector, who came to court dressed in a black suit and red tie, sat quietly in court.
The mistrial means that Los Angeles prosecutors will have to decide whether they want to try Spector again for murder or possibly on lesser charges.
Spector, 67, was accused of shooting 40-year-old actress Lana Clarkson to death in his Los Angeles area home on February 3rd, 2003.
If convicted, the "Wall of Sound" producer could have faced 15 years to life in prison.
His lawyers had argued that Clarkson was depressed over her stalled acting career and other personal issues and shot herself.
Jurors began deliberating in the Spector trial on September 10th, after a sensational five-month trial that focused in part on what prosecutors say was the rock producer's penchant for brandishing guns at women.
The nine-man, three-woman panel told Fidler on September 18th that they were deadlocked, but resumed deliberations two days later after the judge gave them revised legal instructions.