PHIL SPECTOR - JURY IN MURDER RETRIAL TOLD PHIL SPECTOR IS 'MANIAC'

JURY IN MURDER RETRIAL TOLD PHIL SPECTOR IS 'MANIAC'

Music legend Phil Spector is a "demonic maniac" and a "very dangerous man" around women, according to the prosecutor in the producer's murder retrial.

Spector is in court facing charges for the murder of actress Lana Clarkson in 2003, after a first jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict in 2007.

The 69-year-old, famed for his Wall of Sound recording technique, denies murder and could face a 15-year sentence.

Deputy district attorney Truc Do, prosecuting, urged the jury to find guilty a man she said had a "conscious disregard for human life".

"This case is about a man who has had a history of playing Russian roulette with the lives of women," Ms Do told the Los Angeles court.

"Five women got the empty chamber. Lana got the sixth bullet."

The five women mentioned were previous acquaintances of Spector's who, after a ruling by superior court judge Larry Paul Fidler, were permitted to testify and told the court Spector had confronted them with firearms.

"When he's ignited, he always does the same thing - he grabs a gun. In every single one of these incidents, Mr Spector demonstrates conscious disregard for human life. [Lana Clarkson's] death was a death waiting to happen in his world," Ms Do said.

Ms Do, who joined the prosecution team after the first trial was not resolved, noted blood spatter evidence which proved Ms Clarkson could not have taken her own life.

"He can wash his hands clean of her blood but he can't wash them clean of her murder," she added.

Doron Weinberg, part of Spector's defence team, requested a mistrial, saying Ms Do had attacked Spector's character, rather than concentrating on evidence; his motion was denied.

Spector's lawyer's closing argument is due later on Tuesday March 24th.