Phil Spector appeals murder conviction

Spector, 71, was sentenced to 19 years in prison for the fatal shooting of B-movie actress Lana Clarkson in 2003 at his Los Angeles mansion, after a night of heavy drinking.

His first trial in 2007 was declared a mistrial when the jury deadlocked 10-2 in favour of a guilty verdict. Spector was convicted in a retrial after the jury rejected his lawyers' claims that Clarkson killed herself with a shot in the mouth because she was depressed over her fading career.

According the Los Angeles Times, Spector's lawyer, Dennis Riordan, claimed on appeal that a presentation used by the prosecution in its summing up was illegal because it showed the trial judge demonstrating the location of crucial blood evidence and giving jurors the impression 'the judge is on our side.'

Presiding Justice Joan Klein was reportedly skeptical about the claim, saying 'judges do it all the time.' The panel has 90 days to issue a decision on the appeal.