Phil Spector murder charge

Phil Spector, the highly praised record producer, has appeared before a California court to be formally charged with murder.

B-movie actress Lana Clarkson was found dead at his mansion in February with a fatal gunshot wound to her face.

Spector has pleaded not guilty to her murder.

Mr Spector made his name in the 1960s, when his Wall of Sound technique transformed pop music and he produced acts like the Beatles and the Ronettes.

He remains free on $1m bail but cannot leave town.

Mr Spector's lawyer, Robert Shapiro ,who defended OJ Simpson, entered a plea of not guilty on his client's behalf. He must now convince a jury that his client did not pull the trigger, but if he can get OJ off he can probably do the same for Spector and maybe even sue Ms Clarkson for the stain left on his carpet.

Spector met the Ms Clarkson at Hollywood's House of Blues club, where she worked as a hostess, before taking her to his hilltop mansion.

Police were called when a gunshot was heard at the house.

If convicted of first-degree murder, Mr Spector could face a maximum penalty of life in prison.document.write(unescape("