A videotape of Phil Spector's former chauffeur being questioned by police just hours after actress Lana Clarkson was shot dead at the legendary producer's Beverley Hills home was shown in court yesterday as the Spector murder trial resumed.
As previously reported, driver Adriano De Souza claims that shortly after he heard a bang at Spector's mansion home (he was in the car parked outside at the time) he saw Spector appear at a side door and heard him say "I think I killed somebody". De Souza's murder scene evidence is crucial to the prosecution's case. The defence are trying to damage it by claiming that Brazilian immigrant De Souza had a poor grasp of English and misheard Spector saying something like "I think somebody was killed". They are also making allegations that he has been encouraged by the prosecution to testify that he is certain what Spector said in return for favours regarding his own immigration issues.
It was with regard to the first allegation that the prosecution played the video of De Souza being interviewed by detectives five hours after the shooting. The video reportedly showed that, while De Souza has a heavy Brazilian accent, he never seemed to struggle understanding the detectives during the intense and stressful questioning he was subjected to. At one point the driver asks whether he was in danger as a witness because Spector was such a rich man. A detective tells him he shouldn't be in any danger but that he was sure to be contacted by investigators hired by the producer's attorneys. Telling him the shooting would be "high profile" and "newsworthy", the detective says: "I don't think you're in danger. But do I think his attorney is going to contact you? Yes. Just tell the truth. You are not obligated to talk to anyone".
The defence initially objected to the video being shown in court, but after it had been shown they leaped on one bit in particular. Under increasingly intense police questioning as to whether De Souza was absolutely sure that Spector had said "I think I killed somebody", the driver eventually hesitated and said: "I think so. I think so. I'm not sure".
Back in the court room defence attorney Bradley Brunon questioned De Souza about that moment of doubt, but while admitting he had said "I'm not sure" while being questioned by police, the driver this time remained certain that Spector had uttered the words ""I think I killed somebody" shortly after Clarkson's death.
The case continues.