Phil Spector sentenced to 19 years to life for actress' murder

Phil Spector was sentenced today (May 29) to 19 years to life in prison for the murder of actress Lana Clarkson.

The famed music producer, who pioneered the '60s Wall Of Sound technique, was convicted of killing the actress at his Los Angeles-area mansion in 2003 during a retrial that reached its conclusion last month.

Spector, 69, showed no emotion as Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Larry Paul Fidler read the terms of the sentence in court this morning, reports the Associated Press.

Fidler, who presided over both the original trial and the retrial after the original jury could not agree on a verdict, added four years to Spector's sentence for the use of a personal gun. He also ordered Spector to pay $16,811 in funeral expenses, $9,740 to a state victims' restitution fund and other fees.

The actress' mother, Donna Clarkson, made a brief statement before Spector's sentence was announced, saying, "I'm very proud of Lana, proud to be her mother. No one should suffer the loss of a child."

Spector was led away immediately after the sentencing. His attorney, Doron Weinberg requested he be transferred from county jail to a state prison. It is not yet known in which prison Spector will serve out his sentence.

Weinberg said that Spector plans to appeal the decision.

--By our Los Angeles staff.
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