US:The judge in the Phil Spector murder trial said yesterday he would not instruct the deadlocked jury to consider a reduced charge of manslaughter against the music producer.
Los Angeles superior court judge Larry Fidler told lawyers for both sides: "It would be inappropriate at this time to instruct a jury to a new offence."
Judge Fidler made his ruling after hearing arguments from lawyers on both sides, out of the presence of the jury, on whether jurors could be instructed to consider a charge of manslaughter rather than murder. The defence opposed new jury instructions while the prosecution supported the idea. The jury, which said on Tuesday it was deadlocked seven to five on a murder verdict after seven days of deliberations, was awaiting instructions from the judge on how to proceed after being told to suspend their deliberations.
Spector (67) faces 15 years to life in prison if convicted of murdering actress Lana Clarkson in February, 2003.
Judge Fidler on Tuesday rejected a defence motion to declare a mistrial. His suggestion that he might have the jury consider a reduced charge of manslaughter at this stage in the trial had stunned legal observers. -