PHIL SPECTOR - DEATH OF SPECTOR WITNESS WILL 'NOT AFFECT' RETRIAL

DEATH OF SPECTOR WITNESS WILL 'NOT AFFECT' RETRIAL

The death of a woman who testified against PHIL SPECTOR at his murder trial last year (07) won't affect the music producer's upcoming second trial, prosecutors claim. Diane Ogden was one of four female prosecution witnesses who took the stand to accuse Spector of threatening them with a gun. The 61-year-old died at her Utah home on 29 December (07). The cause of death is unknown. But prosecutors insist Ogden's passing will not have an adverse affect on their case at Spector's retrial. Los Angeles district attorney's spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons says, "(Her) death is a tragedy, but it should not affect the upcoming trial." Spector is accused of murdering actress Lana Clarkson at his Alhambra, California mansion in 2003. His original murder trial was ruled a mistrial in September (07) when jurors couldn't agree unanimously on a guilty verdict. A retrial is due to commence later this year (08).