AP Features, April 7th, 2007
Prosecutors in the Phil Spector murder case asked a judge to limit personal attacks on shooting victim Lana Clarkson by the defense, including witness statements alleging the actress was suicidal because of a declining career, that she was expert in handling firearms and had a history of drug use.
Deputy District Attorney Alan Jackson said Friday in court documents that the defense "will attempt to attack the character of victim Lana Clarkson by painting her as the kind of person who might kill herself, despite a medical history showing no depression or suicidal" ideas.
He said the evidence is prejudicial, irrelevant and inadmissible on multiple grounds.
Clarkson was shot Feb. 3, 2003, in the foyer of Spector's suburban Alhambra home. Best known for her role in the 1980s cult film "Barbarian Queen," she was a nightclub hostess at the time of her death.
Motions are being filed as the case moves toward selection of a jury and the start of testimony.
Jackson also sought to exclude an unfinished memoir found in Clarkson's home computer in which she discussed using cocaine in her youth and DVD clips of Clarkson acting in TV and movies, holding a gun and appearing in scenes with implied sexual content.
Jackson said there was no evidence that the guns in the scenes were real.
"The most obvious point, however, is that the victim ... is acting. She is in scenes created by others, speaking lines written by others, and conducting herself as directed by others," the motion said. "Those characters are not Lana Clarkson any more than Sir Anthony Hopkins is Hannibal Lecter."
Prosecutors allege Spector _ creator of the "Wall of Sound" that revolutionized the recording of rock music _ shot Clarkson to death. The coroner's office called it a homicide, but also noted Clarkson had gunshot residue on both of her hands and may have pulled the trigger.
Spector has pleaded not guilty and has suggested the shooting was an accident.
A pretrial hearing on the motions is scheduled for Tuesday. Jury selection is scheduled to resume on April 16.
