Phil Spector trial to be televised

By Stone Martindale Feb 17, 2007, 6:33 GMT

Today a judge ruled that he would allow full television coverage of rock producer Phil Spector's murder trial, despite the backlash cameras caused in Los Angeles courts during O.J. Simpson's controversial trial, reports Reuters.

Superior Court Judge Larry Paul Fidler said it was time to put aside the "fear of cameras in the courtroom" in Los Angeles since the Simpson trial made a quasi-celebrity of his colleague Judge Lance Ito.

"They don't want what happened to Judge Ito to happen to them," Fidler said of Los Angeles judges. "In essence, what nobody wants is another Simpson ... In my mind, at some point we have to get past that trial," reports Reuters.

Fidler said he thought cameras "could be a positive factor in the trial," with jury selection commencing March 19th, the caveat being he would "pull the plug" if coverage was handled badly or if jurors were revealed, reports Reuters.

The famous "Wall of Sound" recording technique and llegendary work with the iconic girl groups including Ronnie Spector, producer Phil Spector is charged with murder, shooting Lana Clarkson in the foyer of his home in 2003.

Spector, who is free on bail, could face life in prison if convicted of murdering Clarkson, the 40-year-old star various B-movies.

Allegedly Spector met Clarkson when she waitressed at the House of Blues on Sunset in the heart of the famous Strip, and claims that she committed suicide.