So, the defence in the Phil Spector trial resumed their case yesterday and chose not, as expected, to continue with their forensics case (though more of that is still to come), instead turning their attention to the character of Lana Clarkson, the former actress found dead at the legendary producer's home back in 2003.
While the prosecution have put much effort into portraying Spector as a gun wielding misogynistic loon, the defence are trying to show that Clarkson was a chronically depressed failed actress with suicidal tendencies. They've touched on Clarkson's alleged personality flaws before, but proceeded in that vein full on yesterday by presenting two defence witnesses who claimed to have known the deceased well, both of whom spoke of the former actress's growing despair at her failing career.
First up John Barons, a writer who had hired Clarkson to play the lead in a play he'd written about Marilyn Monroe, but who later fired her because, he says, she was difficult to work with and not that good an actress. In fact, Barons admitted he mainly hired her in the first place because he hoped she'd bring some of her Hollywood friends to see his production. "The passion was more for fame, but she enjoyed acting". Barons observed, admitting that Clarkson had initially been very "eager" and "ready-to-go" when he cast her in his play, but that she became increasingly difficult to work with, and started to demand numerous script changes. The actress was, Barons reckons, unhappy with her lot in life. He told the court: "If you don't make it in this business by the time you're 40, you might as well give up", adding that Clarkson was aware of this fact and had at one point said that if her acting prospects didn't improve soon she "might as well find a bridge".
Next, another writer, David Schapiro, a good friend of Clarkson, who admitted that the actress was increasingly down regarding her career, or lack of it, in the latter months of her life. He reported on emails sent to him by Clarkson in which she discussed her increasing financial problems. Schapiro said that in one email - a correspondence that has already been raised in court - Clarkson wrote: "I am truly at the end of this whole deal. I am going to tidy up my affairs and chuck it, because it is really all too much for one girl to bear anymore".
However, both Baron and Schapiro seemed keen to stress, however, that they never believed Clarkson was actually suicidal. The former said of the 'bridge' remark, "I'm sure she was kidding", while Schapiro said it wasn't unusual for Clarkson to be overly dramatic, and that it wouldn't be out of character for the actress to make such melodramatic remarks without really meaning them. But such talk of "ending it" in the months prior to her death could well give some credence in the mind of the jury to the suicide claims being made by the defence.
If not, then the defence reckon they still have another ace up their sleeve regarding their portrayal of Clarkson as a woman more than capable of shooting herself, though it still remains to be seen if that witness ever makes it to the stand. The defence only announced last week that they planned to call actor and producer Raul Julia Levy, who is expected to testify that Clarkson had a fascination with guns, a serious cocaine problem and had discussed suicide on a number of occasions. Levy's lawyer, John DeHart, says his client was friends with Clarkson for many years and was intimate with her for several years. He adds: "If everybody believes my client like I do, he's going to contribute to reasonable doubt. [So far in this case] you heard the district attorney's truth. Now you're going to hear the real truth".
The prosecution are trying to block Levy from testifying because of his last minute addition to the defence's witness list. This has resulted in yet another spat between the two sides in this case. Judge Larry Paul Fidler has given the prosecution until 18 Jul to research the new witness and to present their case against allowing him to testify.
The case continues.