So, after all that, it all ended in a mistrial. The jury in the long running, much previously reported Phil Spector murder trail yesterday announced they were still split on whether or not Spector did shoot actress Lana Clarkson at his Beverly Hills mansion back in 2003. In the end they were only split ten to two - we still don't know what way the ten were leaning - but, despite that previously reported change in instructions that Judge Larry Paul Fidler hoped would overcome the deadlock, no unanimous decision could be reached, so Fidler declared a mistrial.
That means Spector now goes free and the prosecution must decide whether they are willing to invest time and money into pursuing the case for a second time. Whether or not they do, there is still the matter of the Clarkson family's civil lawsuit against the legendary producer, which could take the whole thing back to court where, like with OJ Simpson, the lesser evidential requirement (no need to go beyond reasonable doubt and all that) could mean Spector is found, on the balance of probabilities, responsible for Clarkson's death. Time will tell.
The mistrial ruling brings a somewhat anti-climatic end to a five and half month trial in which the prosecution presented Spector as having a split personality, able to turn into a dangerous and violent gun wielding loon when left drinking with women. The defence, meanwhile, claimed Clarkson was suicidal in the months before her untimely death, and could easily have killed herself. The forensics in the case were inconclusive, though the defence always claimed any thorough analysis of the crime scene went in their favour - ie that science showed Spector couldn't have fired the gun that killed Clarkson or, at the very least, couldn't show he definitely did.
In related news, US authorities are investigating an internet posting that appeared to threaten Judge Fidler. Reports say the posting, which has now been removed, read: "I love Phil Spector ... The Evil Judge should DIE. xoxo Chelle". Spector's wife, of course, is called Rachelle, so it's possibly a spoof message designed to look like it comes from the producer's missus.