The jury in the Phil Spector murder trial were back in their little room and deliberating once more yesterday after Judge Larry Paul Fidler withdrew a key part of his original instructions which some reckon may have caused some confusion.
As previously reported, the jury announced earlier this week that they were at deadlock, split five to seven regarding whether or not Spector was guilty or not of murder in relation to the death of actress Lana Clarkson at the legendary producer's Beverly Hills home back in 2003.
It was initially thought that Fidler may allow the jury to instead consider whether they thought Spector was guilty of involuntary manslaughter, but he subsequently announced that option would not be given. Instead he removed a clause from his original instructions to the jury which said that in order to convict Spector the jury members must be certain that the producer held a gun directly into Lana Clarkson's mouth before it was fired. Fidler said that, having thought about it, that instruction "mis-stated the law" and was an "absolute error".
That alteration goes in the prosecution's favour because, in theory, it makes it easier for wavering jurors to conclude Spector is guilty without any new evidence being presented. However, legal experts said yesterday that should the jury now reach a guilty verdict, Fidler's last minute change of heart on that instruction could make the ruling much easier to appeal.
After Fidler's instructions were amended, the jury resumed deliberations, before being dismissed for the day at 4pm. They will continue their discussions today.