So Phil Spector wants a new judge for his new trial, does he?
The latest figure to be blamed for everything that's wrong with Spector's wilting life is the Honorable Judge Larry Paul Fidler, who patiently presided over his trial for five long months last year.
It seems Mr. Spector doesn't think the good judge was good enough.
But Spector's complaints don't end there, nor do his efforts to dole out blame for his miserable lot, and to defame all those involved.
It wasn't good enough that his first trial ended with a hung jury.
It wasn't good enough that his own lawyers secured him that deadlock, because he's gone ahead and replaced every single one of them.
It wasn't good enough that Spector besmirched Lana Clarkson's memory while insisting during his defense that she simply shot herself in the mouth while waiting to leave his California mansion, purse slung over her shoulder.
It wasn't good enough that he cast aspersions upon five women who had their deep, dark and embarrassing secrets unearthed during the prosecution's case because they, too, had looked down the barrel of Phil Spector's various guns while trying to end a bad date with him.
It wasn't good enough that the renowned forensic scientist, Dr Henry Lee, came to Spector's defense, because Spector's own incessant legal wrangling caused Lee's credibility to be thrashed in court.
It wasn't good enough that Spector's immigrant driver offered no embellishment when recounting seeing Spector with blood on his hand, holding a gun, and saying "I think I just killed somebody." Instead, Adriano De Souza offered only the facts, and no more, even though he was so afraid for his own life he sped out of the driveway while dialing police. Spector's reaction? This military veteran who excelled in advanced English classes had his reputation reduced to that of a dumb fool who doesn't know guns, and doesn't speak English well enough to be believed.
If all that weren't enough, it's now it's the judge's fault that Spector didn't get everything he's used to having -- a room full of sycophantic people who tell him he can do (and has done) no wrong.
Bring on round two, whoever the judge may be. It only takes one person to hang a jury, and for a fleeting instant, that's exactly what Spector got. One man -- Juror Number 10 -- who for some reason bought into Spector's expensive defense.
It's unlikely the music legend will see this chorus repeated.
Even though Spector just keeps spending his way out of a giant, roiling, wake of broken people, defamed professionals, jilted lawyers, weak arguments and disappointed music lovers, the evidence is what it is.
Message to Mr. Music: Here's what's up, Pussycat. Your nine legal lives are almost over.
He is so clearly a hired gun, willing to say anything for the bucks, not that anyone ever understands a word he says, including himself, no doubt.
New Rule (apologies to Bill Maher): when someone of means is found guilty, they should have to pay the court fees for wasting taxpayers' money and clogging up the courts. How many "speedy trials" had to wait in the wings while this lunatic pays his lawyers to drag things out as long as possible?
But , like the author says, the evidence is what it is", and what it was on the first go-round, was not sufficient to get a conviction. Maybe the author is correct, that this second trial will end in Spector's conviction, but I for one am content to let the judge and jury come to their own conclusion.
Spector's going to get convicted because he was insufficiently ungrateful to his former legal team?
Spector, sans degree or testimony, is guilty of the "legal wrangling" which besmirched Henry Lee? Wouldn't that be literally be his legal team?
And what if he gets a new judge? Wouldn't that mean that somebody besides Spector himself sees his point even if Banfield won't?
And why is the author so certain that the second trial won't end like the first one? After all, it only takes one dissenter in a group of twelve. Last time it was juror number 10. Next time it might well be juror number 4, but I'm just guessing. Just like the author...
I think Ms. Banfield has described him very well. I should know, I knew him.
It was stated by a few, during the trial that some felt that due to his apparent dwindling health, he might not live out the trial. Is anyone surprised that as soon as the trial ended, he became very healthy again?
I always thought he was faking it and no one wanted to believe me. For some reason, despite what people think of him, they still wanted to believe the performance he was giving.
That's why he always gets away with everything. Everyone should do what he has done for years, look and listen to the finer details, and ignore the big picture.
As for his strategy, He's spending as much of his wealth not to just delay the trial, but also to make sure he has as little as possible when he goes to the civil trial and also so that when he's gone, his family gets nothing. He has even sold rights to his songs so that even his income by royalties will not be there to take.
Personally, I think his lawyers or the court system should have him evaluated to determine mental state. Mr Spector needs Dr's, not a warden for the rest of his life and 24 hour suicide watch.
If you reread my comment, you might notice I never said anything nice about him, as I doubt there is very much of anything about him that is even likeable. But it is Spector as murder who is on trial, and it is to the evidence and testimony that Banfield and you ought to confine your comments. The converse of the conviction of his personality on the basis of his bad , but legal behavior, is that, should he be shown to be a tireless supporter of human rights overseas, which I can't imagine he is, then his good works should outweigh his gunplay. It shouldn't of course, and won't be at trial.
I suppose you, who knew him, must also know the irony resident in the fact that his first hit, 'To Know Him Is To Love Him', was a title he borrowed from the legend on his own father's headstone... And not that his musical gifts should have any bearing on the trial's outcome either or anything else but themselves,but boy what an amazing bridge!
Your commentary was a breath of fresh air in the stale and regurgitated media coverage which mainly focuses on the career highlights of the accused murderer Spector, and less than on that of actress, comedian, producer Lana Clarkson. Edward Lozzi, former publicist and long time friend of Lana Clarkson