Spector death case delayed

Phil Spector has maintained his innocence

A decision on whether to prosecute music producer Phil Spector over the death of a B-movie actress at his home has been delayed.

Spector had been due to appear in court on Tuesday, six months after the death of Lana Clarkson, but prosecutors said they were still waiting for evidence to be handed over.

His $1m bail has now been extended until 30 September.

Clarkson was found in the foyer of Mr Spector's mansion in Alahambra, Los Angeles, on 3 February, with a fatal gun shot to her face.

Although Mr Spector, 62, was arrested following the discovery, no formal charges have been filed.

The matter has now been postponed because the sheriff's department has not brought its evidence to prosecutors, district attorney's spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons said.

Hostess

The sheriff's department said it was still awaiting reports from the crime laboratory.

Lana Clarkson was a B-movie actress

Mr Spector has always maintained his innocence and told Esquire magazine Clarkson shot herself in a bizarre act of suicide.

Police investigators had already ruled out suicide and said it had been a criminal act.

On the night of her death, Clarkson had gone home with Mr Spector after a night at the House of Blues club in West Hollywood, where she worked as a hostess.

Mr Spector became a legendary name in pop music for his work with acts such as John Lennon, Tina Turner, the Ramones and Leonard Cohen.

He is known for the so-called Wall of Sound production technique, a process he perfected during the 1960s with artists such as the Ronettes and Shirelles.