Spector Judge Likely to Admit Writings

Defense attorney Christopher Plourd places his pen in his mouth to represent a gun entering a mouth, as he cross-examines Dr. Louis Pena, a deputy medical examiner, during the murder trial of music producer Phil Spector, Wednesday, May 30, 2007, at Los Angeles Superior Court in Los Angeles. Investigators made mistakes in evidence collection and handling in actress Lana Clarkson's shooting death, including the loss of a piece of one of her teeth, Pena conceded Wednesday. (AP Photo/Robyn Beck, Pool) (Robyn Beck - AP)

LOS ANGELES -- The judge in Phil Spector's murder trial said Thursday he will likely allow the defense to introduce gunshot victim Lana Clarkson's writings about having visions of a dead actress who killed herself with a gun.

Superior Court Judge Larry Paul Fidler made the statements after intense arguments in which defense attorney Christopher Plourd said the writings found on her computer hard drive also include discussions of her fascination with guns, depression over her failing acting career, and struggles with alcohol and drugs.

Prosecutors acknowledged they knew about the material but considered it untrustworthy and did not alert the coroner who concluded that Clarkson was a homicide victim.

Clarkson died of a shot fired inside her mouth in the foyer of Spector's mansion more than four years ago after going home with him from her job as a nightclub hostess. Spector's defense contends Clarkson killed herself.

The issue emerged as Deputy Medical Examiner Louis Pena testified he did not consider doing a "psychological autopsy" on Clarkson. He said information he obtained about Clarkson convinced him she was a hopeful person with no tendency toward suicide. A psychological autopsy is done only at the family's request if a death is a suicide, he said.

Asked whether he considered the writings, Pena said they weren't provided to him. Plourd asked whether his opinion would have changed if they had been, and the judge dismissed jurors so the issue could be discussed outside of their presence.

Once jurors were gone, Plourd disclosed some of the contents of the writings, including a Clarkson composition called "The Story of My Life."

In the document, Plourd said, she discussed having had drug problems in her youth and said she drank 17 shots of tequila on her 17th birthday.

"She has delusions," Plourd said, "She's seeing people who are deceased and talks to them. She talks about seeing a dead actress who comes to her in visions, a struggling actress who didn't make it and killed herself with a gun."

He also cited e-mails Clarkson sent to a friend in which she said she was despairing over money and wanted to get her affairs in order and "chuck it." He argued Pena should be questioned about whether the writings would have influenced his ruling.

"If you consider this information, it weakens and shakes his opinion," Plourd said.

Plourd said that a district attorney's investigator read the diary and concluded it didn't contain anything relevant to the case. Prosecutors gave it to the coroner's office as part of a bundle of information and said they could look at it if they wanted to do a psychological autopsy, he said.