Music producer Phil Spector, accused of murdering an actress, has suffered a legal setback ahead of his trial.
A judge in California has ruled that potentially damning statements said to have been made by Mr Spector to police can be used against him.
Lawyers had sought to have ruled as inadmissible an apparent statement made by Mr Spector after Lana Clarkson was shot dead at his home in February 2003.
Mr Spector allegedly said: "I didn't mean to shoot her." He denies murder.
Ms Clarkson's body was found at Mr Spector's home in Los Angeles after a limousine driver reported hearing a gunshot.
Mr Spector's lawyer, Bruce Cutler, argued that comments attributed to the music producer should be thrown out as Mr Spector was suffering prescription-drug withdrawal symptoms at the time.
"We deny in the clearest terms that he ever confessed to shooting the lady," Mr Cutler said.
Mr Spector, known for his "wall of sound" production technique, has pleaded not guilty and is free on $1m (£565,000) bail.
If convicted, he faces life imprisonment.
Ms Clarkson, a B-movie actress, starred in Roger Corman's cult film Barbarian Queen and had been working as a hostess at the House of Blues venue in Hollywood.
A pre-trial hearing has been set for 2 December, and the trial could begin in January.
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