Spector to speak to BBC for film about his life

Defence begins its case in murder trial

Last Updated: Wednesday, June 27, 2007 | 4:05 PM ET

CBC Arts

Legendary producer Phil Spector has agreed to give his first interview in 35 years to Vikram Jayanti, co-producer of the Oscar-winning Muhammad Ali documentary When We Were Kings, for a documentary being made for the BBC.

The documentary is being filmed as Spector stands trial in Los Angeles for the murder of actress Lana Clarkson.

Music producer Phil Spector smiles on April 25 at the start of his trial in Los Angeles.
(Damian Dovarganes/Associated Press)

In the film, being made for a British series called Arena, Spector talks about his fear that his musical legacy will be forever overshadowed by the murder case.

Spector is known for the "wall of sound" approach to musical production and for working with artists such John Lennon and the Ronettes.

He has led a reclusive life for decades, seldom leaving his Los Angeles mansion.

The Agony and the Ecstasy of Phil Spector is set to appear on BBC 2 in autumn.

Its final resolution is still being determined in a Los Angeles court, where the defence called its first witness on Tuesday.

Prosecutors have spent the last 10 weeks presenting the case that Spector shot Clarkson, who was killed by a gunshot into the mouth.

The defence says she committed suicide.

On Tuesday, Dr. Vincent DiMaio, a physician with a specialty in forensic medicine, testified that Clarkson committed suicide by shooting herself in the mouth.

"She died of a self-inflicted wound," said DiMaio. "There is no objective scientific evidence that anyone else held the gun. Everything else is speculative."

Clarkson, found dead in a chair in the lobby of Spector's mansion, had gunshot residue and blood on her hands.

DiMaio noted that Clarkson had a .12 per cent blood-alcohol level and Vicodin in her system.

"People on alcohol do stupid things," he said.