Fountain row in Spector retrial

Spector is famous for pioneering the "Wall of Sound" recording technique

Jurors in the murder retrial of Phil Spector are to visit his Los Angeles home after the judge set conditions on the use of an outdoor fountain there.

Prosecutors say that on the first jury's visit, the music producer tried to increase the fountain's volume.

This had been done to suggest his chauffeur could not have clearly heard an alleged murder confession, they say.

The judge may not allow the fountain to be switched on. Mr Spector denies shooting Lana Clarkson in 2003.

It is alleged that Mr Spector's chauffeur heard his employer say: "I think I killed somebody."

Prosecution lawyers gave Superior Court Judge Larry Paul Fiddler e-mail exchanges they had got hold of between Mr Spector and his original defence team in which it was advised that "the fountain be on full bore".

Members of the first jury had asked to have the fountain in the courtyard turned on and off to assess background noise.

And retrial defence lawyers want to duplicate the scene at Mr Spector's home on 3 February 2003 when he brought actress Clarkson, 40, to his house.

'Wall of Sound'

The judge has rejected prosecution objections to the tour of Mr Spector's house but said the fountain could be turned on for jurors - only if it was found to have a simple on-off switch and no way of manipulating the volume.

The tour of Mr Spector's house is expected to take place next week.

On Friday, prosecutors rested their case after nine weeks of evidence.

The defence claims that Ms Clarkson, down on her luck and depressed about her future, pulled the trigger on the gun that killed her.

The prosecution maintains that Ms Clarkson, who starred in 1980s cult film Barbarian Queen, was shot dead by Mr Spector.

In Mr Spector's first trial, which lasted five months and ended in September 2007, the jury failed to reach a decision.

The producer, famous for pioneering the "Wall of Sound" recording technique in the 1960s, faces between 15 years and life in prison if he is found guilty of second degree murder.

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