Spector granted murder case delay

Phil Spector is free on $1m bail

Music producer Phil Spector has been granted a court delay to give his new legal team time to prepare his defence against a murder charge.

Spector, 64, denies murdering B-movie actress and club hostess Lana Clarkson at his home in February 2003.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Carlos Uranga agreed to rearrange a preliminary hearing for 16 December.

A spokesman for the prosecutor's office said delays in high-profile cases were to be expected.

"The district attorney is used to having cases like this move like a herd of turtles," district attorney spokesman Sandi Gibbons said.

Mr Spector's recently-appointed lawyer Bruce Cutler said he was confident of clearing his client' s name.

Lana Clarkson died in February 2003

"This case never should have been brought," Mr Cutler said.

"Our aim is not only to win this case but also to win it in the court of public opinion.

"There was no crime committed and I'm sure he'll bring forth evidence that the district attorney has been hiding."

Joining Mr Cutler on the defence team is Roger Rosen, best known for defending mafia boss John Gotti.

Lana Clarkson, 40, was found shot dead at Mr Spector's mansion in the Alhambra district of Los Angeles.

He was charged with murder and is on $1m (£550,000) bail. The defence alleges she shot herself.