Spector's lawyer denies having victim's fingernail
From Stan Wilson
CNN
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Legendary music producer Phil Spector in a file photograph.
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LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- The murder trial of legendary music producer Phil Spector has been delayed until a judge can determine whether defense lawyers are holding a piece of evidence that could help exonerate him.
In a hearing Tuesday, the Los Angeles County district attorney's office claimed that Spector's team of investigators found a broken fingernail with visible gunpowder residue belonging to actress Lana Clarkson, who was found shot to death in Spector's mansion last year.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Carlos Uranga ordered a hearing in May to figure out who found the fingernail and exactly where it was discovered.
After the hearing, Leslie Abramson -- who replaced Robert Shapiro as Spector's attorney -- told reporters that no one from the defense team is holding any evidence from the crime scene and said that prominent forensic scientist Dr. Henry Lee would testify on Spector's behalf to dispel those claims.
"If pulling the trigger cracked off that piece of acrylic nail, we would be the first people to want it found," said Abramson. "We do not have a piece of nail."
Spector, 63, is accused of fatally shooting Clarkson and remains free on $1 million bail. He faces life in prison if convicted. Spector's attorney claims the actress committed suicide.
Prosecutors were informed about the mystery piece of evidence in July after a retired sheriff's detective hired by Spector's attorney mentioned it to homicide detectives at a party.
A few months later, Spector attorney Shapiro told prosecutors that investigators in the case overlooked a critical piece of physical evidence at the crime scene and that his team had collected the item, according to court documents.
Shapiro, who represented O.J. Simpson in his murder trial, was recently replaced on the case by Abramson.
Abramson called the detective who worked on Spector's defense team "a spy" who conspired to infiltrate the case and frame Spector.
"We believe he was an agent from the sheriff from the very beginning who insinuated himself in the defense team for the purpose of spying," said Abramson.
Spector's attorneys are considering a motion to disqualify the Los Angeles District Attorney's office if they can prove that prosecutors knew that the detective in question, Stan White, was spying for the sheriff's department.
A spokeswoman from the district attorney's office declined to speculate on Abramson's claim.
Actress Lana Clarkson appeared in small film roles throughout her career, including a part in "Scarface."
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Abramson defended brothers Eric and Lyle Menendez, who were both convicted in the 1989 execution-style murder of their parents in Beverly Hills.
Spector, a Grammy award winner and producer of The Beatles' "Let it Be" album created the so-called "wall of sound" recording style and helped to bring international fame to such groups as the Ronettes, the Crystals, and the Righteous Brothers.
He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of fame in 1989, but has remained reclusive over the past two decades.
Clarkson appeared in small film roles throughout her acting career, including parts in "Scarface," "Fast Times at Ridgemont High," "Deathstalker" and "Blind Date."
