While Phil Spector almost certainly will face a new jury in relation to the murder charges made against him, it is unlikely to happen until Spring 2008, meaning another year will pass without the law reaching judgment on what happened at the legendary producer's Beverly Hills home the night actress Lana Clarkson came to visit in 2003.
As previously reported, Judge Larry Paul Fidler declared a mistrial last week after the jury who had sat through the five and half month murder trial failed to reach a unanimous decision regarding his guilt or innocence. The prosecution in the case almost immediately announced their intent to pursue a second trial, and Fidler announced there would be a hearing this week to schedule that retrial, seemingly in a bid to get things under way asap.
But Spector's lead attorney Roger J Rosen announced at the end of last week that he will not be working on the case for a second trial, telling reporters: "I signed up for one tour of duty, not two". That means Spector will have to appoint a new team to take on his case, and that team will need months to prepare, so nothing is likely to get back to court until Spring next year.
Spector lawyer Christopher J Plourd, who hasn't indicated yet whether he plans to stay with the case himself, confirmed that a new legal team would need to be put together adding: "It would take at least six months for any lawyer to get ready. This is a very complicated, serious homicide case".