Lana Clarkson killed herself at Phil Spector's Beverly Hills home in a drink and drug fuelled spur-of-the-moment suicide. Not my words, I should stress, but those of Werner Spitz, a former chief medical examiner from Michigan, who told the ongoing Spector murder trial yesterday that that was the "most likely" way in which the former actress died at the legendary producer's home that night back in 2003.
Spitz was the latest expert called by Spector's defence to argue that, by rushing to the conclusion that Clarkson's death was homicide, the police and prosecutors had ignored the fact that suicide was simply the likeliest explanation for how the former actress died. He said he based his conclusion on a combination of the physical evidence at the crime scene and testimonies pertaining to Clarkson's personal history. One of the prosecution's key forensic experts, who ruled the shooting was most likely homicide, admitted he hadn't done a 'psychological autopsy' of Clarkson, taking into account various reports of the former actress' depression.
Referring to the physical and psychological evidence, Spitz told the court: "You add the two together and you really have no choice in coming to a determination. Alcohol and drugs makes it worse. I think she died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. It most likely is a suicide".
In cross examination Spitz admitted that he was being paid rather well for undertaking forensic analysis on the defence's part. Asked how much he was charging the Spector team for his services, Spitz said: "I sent them a bill for $45,000". Prosecutor Alan Jackson added: "Ultimately, you're being paid by Mr Spector?" to which Spitz replied "Yes, that's true".
The case continues.