Prosecutors ask for mystery evidence in Spector case
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Phil Spector
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CNN's Charles Feldman provides background on famed music producer Phil Spector who was charged with the murder of an actress.
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ALHAMBRA, California (CNN) -- Prosecutors in the Phil Spector murder case want the defense to reveal any undisclosed evidence taken from the crime scene.
In court Thursday, Los Angeles Deputy District Attorney Douglas Sartino told Superior Court Judge Carlos Uranga that he learned of an "item of physical evidence" during a meeting last year with Spector's attorney, Robert Shapiro.
At the meeting, Sartino said, Shapiro informed him that the evidence "had been overlooked at the crime scene" and had been recovered by the defense investigators.
Sartino told the judge that the district attorney's office had made attempts since September to get Shapiro to identify the item and make it available, but so far Spector's attorney has not done so.
"I want to know if something was found," Sartino said. "I want to know what was found."
The judge told Shapiro that "if you do have an object of evidence, you have an obligation to turn it over to the people."
Shapiro would neither "confirm nor deny" the existence of an item of evidence, but asked that he be allowed to file a brief regarding the matter.
The judge granted the request and ordered a hearing on the matter on February 17.
The judge also ordered that any possible item of evidence collected "not be destroyed or altered" before the hearing could take place.
The court also dealt with the original purpose of Thursday's hearing, setting the date of March 16 for the next procedural hearing, at which time the date for Spector's preliminary hearing will be scheduled.
The record producer, who was in court Thursday morning, was ordered to appear again at both the February and March court dates.
Spector did not address reporters on the way into the courthouse, and in court spoke only to answer softly "yes, your honor" twice when asked by the judge if he understood various points.
Spector wore a dark gray suit with a long duster jacket, black shirt and three-inch platform shoes.
Spector, a legendary record producer and member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, is charged with one count of murder in the shooting death of actress Lana Clarkson.
Clarkson was found dead in Spector's hilltop home last year from a gunshot wound to the head.
Spector maintains he is innocent of the crime.
