Mystery evidence in Spector case

Phil Spector (L) and Robert Shapiro, who also represented OJ Simpson

Prosecutors have accused the defence team of murder suspect and record producer Phil Spector of refusing to hand over a piece of evidence.

The unspecified item was allegedly overlooked at the crime scene and found by the defence team's investigators.

But Mr Spector's lawyers claim that even if the evidence does exist, they are not required to share it if it was missed by authorities.

Mr Spector is accused of killing actress Lana Clarkson at his US home.

The 63-year-old music producer has denied murdering Clarkson, 40, whose body was found with a gunshot wound in Los Angeles on 3 February 2003.

Both sides have until 17 February to file papers on the unknown evidence.

Enigma

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Carlos Uranga told defence lawyer Robert Shapiro: "If you do have a piece of evidence that's material to the case you have to turn it over to the people."

Prosecutors said they did not know what the evidence was.

"We want to have access to it and know what people have access to it and what changes have been made to it," Deputy District Attorney Doug Sortino said.

The producer faces life in prison without parole if convicted.

He appeared in court briefly, and his only comment during the hearing was to agree to the postponement.

Authorities seized dozens of items as evidence, including blood samples, guns, boxes of ammunition, holsters and computers.

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.