PHIL SPECTOR - POLICE OFFICER CONTRADICTS EVIDENCE IN SPECTOR RETRIAL

POLICE OFFICER CONTRADICTS EVIDENCE IN SPECTOR RETRIAL

The prosecution team in Phil Spector's retrial have suffered a blow after police contradicted evidence given by the producer's ex-girlfriend.

Dorothy Melvin dated Spector for four years and claimed they had split after he drew blood by hitting her over the head with a gun.

But Sergeant Chris Russ, called by the prosecution to corroborate Ms Melvin's testimony, said he could not recall seeing any injuries when he responded to her emergency call in 1993.

Spector, 66, is back in court charged with murder of actress Lana Clarkson at his mansion in 2003.

A mistrial was ruled last year after jurors failed to reach a unanimous verdict.

The prosecution team are attempting to prove the legendary music producer had a history of threatening women with guns prior to Ms Clarkson's death.

Sgt Russ responded to a call at Spector's home in July 1993, which he described as "something of a domestic incident".

Ms Melvin claimed a drunk Spector hit her head with a pistol, drawing blood.

But under questioning from defence attorney Doron Weinberg, the officer said he did not observe any injuries.

"You don't recall her saying anything about being hit with a gun?" Weinberg asked.

"No, I don't," replied Russ. He also said he saw no sound of the Wall of Sound creator being drunk.

Ms Melvin did not press charges over the incident, claiming she did not want to create adverse publicity for Spector.

Devra Robitaille, another ex-girlfriend of Spector's testified that he once pulled a gun on her when she tried to leave a party at his home.

"I was standing in the foyer and when I turned he had a gun pointed at my temple," she said. "It stopped me cold. I didn't know what to do," said Robitaille.

"How did you feel?" asked prosecutor Truc Do.

"Outraged and disrespected," she said. "He was shouting at me different permutations of, 'I'll blow your head off, blow your brains out.'"

Ms Robitaille explained she "became British" and told him to "stop mucking about" and put down the gun.

She said she planned on quitting after the incident but was coaxed back with flowers and pleas and worked with him for another 18 months.

"There was more good than bad," she said. "It was interesting and exciting and for the most part Mr Spector was a good guy. I put it aside."