February 21, 2012 17:34

Phil Spector's murder conviction appeal rejected by US Supreme Court

Court opt not to review producer's sentence for killing Lana Clarkson

Photo: PA Photos

The US Supreme Court have rejected Phil Spector's appeal against his 2009 murder conviction.

The legendary producer, who was convicted of killing actress Lana Clarkson three years ago, wanted the court to review his sentence because he not initially given a fair trial, as Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Larry Paul Fidler had offered his opinion on an expert witness' testimony. However, Rolling Stone reports that the court declined to review the conviction and have upheld the original verdict.

Previously, the producer had been told last August by the California Supreme Court that he could not launch another appeal against the conviction. He originally appealed against the decision in 2010, when his legal team argued that the testimonies of five women who said that he had threatened them in the past were improperly used during the trial, but these claims were also rejected.

Earlier this month (February 6), meanwhile, it was reported that Spector had settled a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the victim's mother, Donna Clarkson. He had originally tried to mount a defence against the legal action, but both he and Clarkson have since signed the settlement.

Spector was sentenced to 19 years in prison after being found guilty of Clarkson's murder in 2009.

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