Music legend Phil Spector sentenced to 19 years to life in prison

Update: 5/29/09

Music producer Phil Spector was sentenced to 19 years to life in prison for murdering Lana Clarkson in 2003.

The 69-year-old man pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder during his five-month re-trail in Los Angeles.

Clarkson was best known for his role in the 1985 movie Barbarian Queen

A jury of six men and six women found music legend, Phil Spector, guilty of second-degree murder of the 2003 shooting death of his girlfriend in his Alahambra, California, home.

The jury deliberated for about 30 hours, which started on March 26, on whether the 69-year-old music legend was guilty of second-degree murder or involuntary manslaughter.

After deliberating for 15 days in a September 2007 trial, jurors told a judge they were unable to reach a verdict, and a mistrial was declared.

In 2003, Spector’s girlfriend, Lana Clarkson, 40, was found dead with a gunshot wound through the roof of her mouth and slumped in a chair in Spector’s home.

During the second trial, prosecution told the court that Spector “has a history of playing Russian roulette with–six women and Lana just happened to be the sixth.”

Defense attorney argued that Lana committed suicide even though Spector’s fingerprints were found on the weapon.