Phil Spector has been sentenced to 19 years to life behind bars for the murder of actress Lana Clarkson.
US music producer Phil Spector at sentencing in his murder trial in Los Angeles, California, USA, 29 May 2009. Phil Spector was convicted on 13 April 2009 of second-degree murder in the shooting death of film actress Lana Clarkson at his mansion six years ago. EPA/JAE C. HUNG/
The 69-year-old legendary music producer - who was convicted of second-degree murder in April after a five-month retrial and more than 30 hours of jury deliberations - looked frail as Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Larry Paul Fidler handed him his sentence on Friday (29.05.09).
Spector - famous for developing the 'Wall of Sound' production technique in the 60s and working with The Beatles, the Rolling Stones and Ike and Tina Turner - received 15 years to life for second-degree murder and four years for personal use of a gun.
He was also ordered to pay $16,811 in funeral expenses, $9,740 to a state victims' restitution fund and other fees.
The actress' mother Donna Clarkson made a brief statement before Spector was sentenced, saying: "I'm very proud of Lana, proud to be her mother. No one should suffer the loss of a child."
Spector's attorney Doron Weinberg has requested the hitmaker be transferred from county jail to a state prison, though at the time of writing it is not know which jail he will serve his sentence at.
He also revealed Spector will be appealing against the term.
Clarkson died from a gunshot to the mouth received in the foyer of Spector's Pyrenees Castle mansion, located in Alhambra, California, in early 2003. The pair had only met just hours earlier in a Hollywood nightclub.
During the case - in which Spector didn't give evidence - the defence alleged the 40-year-old actress' death was a suicide.
Despite denying he murdered the victim, Spector's former chauffer Adriano de Souza testified he saw Spector clutching a pistol shortly after Miss Clarkson was shot, saying: "I think I just killed somebody."
The five-month trial was the second time Spector had been tried for the crime. The first trial in 2007 collapsed after jurors failed to reach a unanimous verdict.
In the second case the 12-strong jury was given the option of returning a verdict of involuntary manslaughter but opted for second degree murder.
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