Phil Spector: Wrongful-Death Civil Suit Trial Date Set

Phil Spector, California Department of Corrections and Rehabililtaion booking photo



The Associated Press is reporting that a trial date of January 9th, 2012 has been set for the Clarkson family's wrongful-death suit against Phil Spector. The Clarkson family is represented by the highly respected team of John Taylor & David Ring of Taylor & Ring.

Last I read, Spector is now represented by Leslie Abramson. Leslie Abramson, who recently attended the oral arguments for Spector's appeal of his murder conviction, is best known for her role in the defense of Erik and Lyle Menendez for the August 20th, 1989 murders of their parents Jose and Kitty Menendez in their Beverly Hills home.

The Washington Post wrote this about Abramson's representation:

The Washington Post, May 4th, 1996

The most dramatic part of the Menendez trial -- the retrial, that is -- was not watching two ghostly young men sit in silence as a prosecutor demanded their deaths for the crime of murdering their parents. It was watching their star attorney sit in silence as a colleague pleaded for their lives in her stead. Leslie Abramson, condemned to silence. Gagged, as it were, in that final, critical moment after five years of hellbent, heaven-rending fury in defense of her client, Erik Menendez, and his brother, Lyle. Worst of all, silenced by accusations that she ordered evidence altered, ...

Will Spector continue with Ms. Abramson as his attorney for the civil case? We'll have to wait and see.

If you wish to comment on this entry, please E-mail me at sprocket.trials AT gmail.com with your comment or question and it will be published if it meets T&T's commenting guidelines. Your E-mail address will NOT be published. If you wish to remain anonymous that will be honored. Sprocket

Dominick Dunne: Power, Privilege & Justice

UPDATED!

Tonight on TruTV, the late Dominick Dunne's series, Power Privilege and Justice will be airing an episode on Phil Spector. Beth Karas, from CNN's In Sessions, Linda Deutsch from the Associated Press and Steven Mikulan from The LA Weekly are interviewed.

Recently, the online tabloid news has reported that Spector, writing his friends and fans from prison has told them that prison is driving him insane. Last night on the Jay Leno Show, Leno quipped:

"And record producer Phil Spector says life in prison is making him insane. Apparently he's no longer the level-headed guy who shot his dinner date..."

Thanks to all my Facebook friends and T&T contributor Dave in Tennessee for the heads up on the show.

UPDATE:
I finally watched the episode this morning. This was one of the best shows that Dominick did. I was surprised to see that another reporter I respect, Ciaran McEvoy with the Los Angeles Daily Journal, was also interviewed as part of the show along with Peter Y. Hong of the Los Angeles Times.

Cameron Brown Retrial; Closing Arguments, Part I

First, I need to point out that I've been spelling the defense co-counsel's name wrong for the entire case. I had it as Veretsian. It's Yeretsian! Judge Pastor did pronounce her name as if it started with a "Y" but I thought that was how it was pronounced. My error.

I end up driving into downtown because I couldn't find a parking spot at the Red Line Station in North Hollywood. The city replaced all the street parking around the Red Line with metered parking and the lot was full. When I get into downtown, I park in my usual $9.00 a day favorite lot on Broadway below 2nd Street. As I'm walking up Broadway, I see Ted a half-a-block in front of me. I walk as slow as I can as not to overtake him.

But inside the Criminal Justice Center, I'm unable to escape Ted. I won't go into detail today but that's a story for another time.

Once inside 107 other cases are waiting to be heard and the gallery is full of people I've never seen before. Patty and Ted have reversed rows. Ted is now in the first row and Patty is in the second. Ted corrals a cameraman waiting to film the closings and engages him in conversation. He's on the other side of the room so I don't know what's being said.

Mavis the court reporter first up. I really like Mavis. She's always taken the time to say hello or ask how I'm doing. I freely admit I'm a fan of the staff in 107.

Two tall, very professional looking women DDA's are chatting at the prosecution table. One of them says, "Murders are hard to settle [....] they want life (with parole) [...] not life." Another attorney, a tall man takes two older black women aside. They go into the ante chamber to talk. The same thing happens with an older black attorney with graying hair. He asks to speak to the several young women to my left and they step outside the courtroom.

The DDA's and other counsel chat at the prosecution table. It's 8:44 am and Pastor's courtroom is not starting on time. Two nicely dressed older black women enter. Their hair is perfectly coiffed and they're wearing nice jewelry. Lots more different people enter. Most are black but some appear to be Hispanic. Their dress ranges from casual jeans like me to nicely dressed.

I'm guessing that it's two different cases that are waiting to be heard instead of one.

8:47 am: The bailiff calls out to everyone to turn off their cell phones. Judge Pastor comes out and asks to see counsel. He apologizes for his tardiness. He didn't expect Spring Street to be closed. He must have had to go completely around the block to get into the underground parking garage. That would take a while.

JP: So what's the latest?

I think it's one DDA and two defense counsel who are speaking to Judge Pastor at sidebar.

Behind me in the third row is a pretty blond woman reading from a huge black binder, much like the binders I've seen DDA's file their cases in. She has a nice over sized black leather bag that I'm admiring and a black pantsuit on. I vacillate back and forth throughout the court day whether she is DA staff or a reporter. A colleague of hers comes through the inner doors of 107 and she calls out to him by name to come over.

Even though Mavis is at her desk, it sounds as if the discussion at side bar is off the record. The other clue is, Judge Pastor has not called any cases into the record. Judge Pastor then says to the bailiff, "Bring out Mr. Rankins." There's still quite a bit of chatter in the courtroom.

At 8:58 am, a black man wearing a blue prison uniform is brought out. I miss getting the man's first name. Markee? Rankins represented by Mr. White and DDA Ms. Hollingsworth. There's an significant development in the case. I don't get it all precisely. Ms. Hollingsworth is telling Judge Pastor that, "... another individual came forward who said another individual (told them?) and confessed." I believe she goes onto say, "This defendant, Mr. Rankins has been sitting in fail for something that [he did not do)." The DDA is moving to dismiss under 1385.

Judge Pastor says, "Anything Mr. White?" "I'll not say anything, your honor," he replies.

Judge Pastor then addresses the sheriff's in the room. He wants to know if it's possible to get a forthwith release from the courthouse. ".... But I would rather not have Mr. Rankins not even go back to county."

Several people in the gallery stood up and shouted with glee and clapped when the case against Mr. Rankins was dismissed. He had quite a few supporters in the gallery. This man was in jail for two years, accused of murder by several eye witness testimony that identified him as the guilty party. As I'm reading back over my notes, I'm remembering that the DDA said there was something about an investigation of another case where they were tape recording gang members and this new evidence came to light.

I do not know if the accused was released forthwith or if he did have to go back to county lockup to be released.

Judge Pastor asks to see counsel on the next case at sidebar.

The pretty woman in black behind me gets up to speak to Hum's assistant Susan Kim. Around this time, the accredited press shows up: Denise Nix from the Daily Breeze and Greg Risling from the Associated Press. We chat about the jury visit. There's even more people in the courtroom now.

There are three people in the front row who know Harris but I've never seen before. I later learn that two of them are Harris's aunt and uncle and the other older man may have been his father. Lisa thought she overheard one say it was a Harris family tradition to go to all of his closing arguments.

The defendant in the next case is brought out and the DDA's staff for this case enters 107 shortly after. Another reporter enters. It's Jack Leonard from the LA Times who also covered the opening statements. Judge Pastor states that he's received more requests from the media for taped coverage of the closings, LA Times and KABC. Hum and Harris both have no objections. Pastor authorizes the placement of non-intrusive cameras. There are also people here from Inside Edition. Judge Pastor will not allow the cameramen to set up in the back right corner by the jury box and he makes it clear that the jurors and the gallery is not to be filmed or photographed. The cameras are set up back in the clerk's desk area pointed at the podium and I try to get out of the line of sight just in case.

It doesn't appear that KTLA showed up but Inside Edition did. A bit later, two more cameramen show up to take photos. I should also note that Brown's parents are inside the courtroom. Lynne Brown is sitting next to Patty Brown in the second row. Mrs. Brown senior has a bit of a shake to her body (possibly Parkinson's?) and she walks with a cane. It appears her health has taken a turn for the worse since the first trial.

Katie is sitting beside me and I ask her if she can tell what color Craig Hum's suit is under the fluorescent lights. It looks like a grayish green against his white shirt. It's a stunning color on him. He's also wearing a dark olive green tie with tiny dots or hints of red in the pattern that compliment his suit perfectly. Terri Keith from City News shows up. Another tall, female reporter also shows up. (I think this is the Inside Edition staff.)

9:45 am the case is finally called. The jurors file into the courtroom. Judge Pastor had already read to them some of the jury instructions Monday after the site visit. Judge Pastor then goes into his explanation to the jurors the closing arguments and that it's not testimony.

Hum steps up to present his opening argument. (Hum will get two bites at the apple. The first argument and then the rebuttal argument.) He first thanks the jurors for their service.

CH: We've been together a little over two months now.

He tells them that they have "two duties." First to decide the facts from all the evidence from our visit to all of the sites; that's the first duty. Their second duty is to take those facts and decide whether or not the defendant is guilty.

Hum then explains to the jurors the charges against Brown.

CH: The defendant is charged with one court of murder.

He's also charged with two special circumstances; murder by means of lying in wait and murder by financial gain and that they will be required to determine if those special circumstances are true or not. To determine of Lauren was murdered three things need to be proven.

1. A human being was killed.

2. The killing was unlawful. (Hum explains that.)

3. The killing was done with malice and forethought.

Hum then goes onto explain malice and implied malice. Malice is the intention, unlawfully to kill a human being. From the California Penal Code, implied malice is:

"It is implied, when no considerable provocation appears, or when the circumstances attending the killing shows an abandoned and malignant heart."

Hum explain the law requirement for conviction of murder and also states there is expressed and implied malice in this case.

CH: But here we have both types of malice and we only have to have one (for conviction). [...] It really is that simple and that straight forward.

Hum goes over the aspects of first degree murder and second degree. He explains that there is no time required or no planning required for first degree. He then explains the first special circumstance of murder by lying in wait.

CH: Waiting for opportunity to act. Concealment of purpose. Take victim by surprise.

Hum then goes over the second special circumstance. That the murder was intentional. That it was carried out for financial gain, or maybe to end a financial obligation. Although these issues "need not be a dominant, substantial or significant motive."

10:00 am: Cameron Brown's mother leaves the courtroom and his father follows not long afterwords. They do not stay inside 107 for any more of the prosecution's closing argument.

Hum goes over the jury instructions and the credibility of the witnesses. He asks them to consider the "bias or interest or other motive of the defense witnesses [...] because some of the defense witnesses had a bias or interest. [...] Only two people witnessed what happened at Inspiration Point and one of them, Lauren is dead."

Hum reminds the jurors that Judge Pastor explained to them a bit about circumstantial evidence and that it is equal to direct evidence. He reminds the jurors that we've been together about two months now. "Lauren's mother testified over a-month-and-a-half ago. Approximately forty-five people testified in the people's case."

CH: One of the most important pieces of evidence in this case, the crime scene: Inspiration Point. You can look at photos, but until you get out there, until you see what Inspiration Point is like, you can't get a true feeling of what it's like at Inspiration Point. [...] It also shows you that the defendant's statements, of what (he said) they went on was a complete lie."

(Hum will call Brown a liar many more times in his opening closing and his rebuttal closing.)

CH: There's absolutely no way that things happened the way the defendant said it did. [...] There is no way that Lauren would have wanted to take a 1.5 mile hike! [...] There's no way that Lauren wanted to do that hike. There is no way that Lauren led that hike!"

Hum's voice is loud and impassioned as he's making these statements.

CH: That's his story. She wanted to go out there. [...] The defendant is lying and innocent people don't' need to lie.

I see that juror #6 is looking down towards her left. I wonder if she's crying.

Hum talks about the testimony of Sarah Key-Marer, and that "the defense tried to portray this as (relationship with Brown) as just a fling. [...] That's because they can't explain how he treated her. [...] He told his friends, (several of them) that he got her pregnant. [...] (He then) tried to get her deported!" Hum continues with his examples of what Brown did to Sarah.

CH: These actions shows just how vindictive the defendant is.

Hum then moves onto the child support and how Brown wanted custody for Lauren.

CH: He never even met her! [...] He claimed in court documents this is in Lauren's best interest. [...] How would he even know? He's never even met her.

Hum moves onto the hatred Brown had for his own mother and then the adoption. Hum states that Sarah told detectives the next day after Lauren died, that Brown had agreed at one time to the adoption.

CH: The defendant told her the adoption had to happen within 30 days or thins are going to get ugly.

The discussion about adoption was in February and he was getting married in March.

CH: Patty's 47. She's not going to have kids! [...] He's getting married and he wants this done before.

As Hum talks about this he also mentions that Patty wanted Lauren. As Hum says this Patty shakes her head. The bailiff immediately gets up and speaks to Patty about her actions. I'm told that the bailiff specifically asked her if she understood him. (Judge Pastor made it clear when he addressed the gallery before the jury was brought in that he did not want any type of actions from the gallery in response to the arguments by counsel. Patty appears to have not have heard Judge Pastor's instruction to the courtroom.) Afterwords, Ted turns around to speak to Patty who slightly shakes her head a second time in response to his questions.

CH: (When the adoption didn't happen in that time frame...) Now there's no way that he's going to give Sarah what she wants.

Hum goes over the statements that Lauren makes, that Greg is only her step father and Josh is only her step brother.

CH: The defendant made false exaggerations about Sarah, about child abuse. [...] The defendant lied. [...] He told Jan Meuler, that Lauren told him that Sarah kicked her in the kitchen [...] and grabbed her on the mouth and threw her down. [...] The defendant does this to torment Sarah through Lauren. [...] The behavior is calculated to hurt Sarah. [...] The defendant was using Lauren as a tool to get back at Sarah for messing up his life. [...] So Lauren was the perfect tool, to hurt Sarah.

Hum goes over Lauren's last day of life. "She's crying. she's crying all day," Hum continues. I see Sarah touches her nose with a tissue. Her eyes appear wet.

CH: Lauren is reaching out to her teacher, crying, as she was carried away. [...] The defendant was concerned how Patty found out but couldn't care less how Sarah found out.

Hum details Sarah's reaction (of hysterics and throwing up) verses Brown's reaction.

CH: The defendant never said one word to Sarah how Lauren died. [...] The defendant refused to tell her how Lauren died. [...] He was mocking, making fun of her (with the phone calls) Hellllooooo. [...] It just goes to sow ow much he hated her.

Hum then goes over the LAX incident that was recorded on video and audio. He details how Brown wrote out a statement.

CH: Who does that!!!! He wanted her arrested for a crime he totally fabricated! [...] Who does that! [...] He's nasty, vindictive, spiteful.

Hum describes Lauren, and mentions all the witnesses who described her as sweet and happy and liked to please.

CH: She was careful. She was cautious. She was not a tomboy. [...] She gets scared when she's carried too close to the pier at Huntington Beach! [...] Everyone who knew her said that. [...] All of them said, this is what Lauren was like. This is what she liked to do. [...] And who did the defense put up to contradict that? [...] Brown's mother. [...] Lauren didn't hike. (There's) testimony to that. [...] There's no way that Lauren would run down that slope. [...] We saw testimony and video of those girls throwing the golf balls.

Hum then goes over the witnesses who observed Lauren and knew her personality and the testimony of the teacher who observed the defendant with Lauren.

CH: All these people knew Lauren and all these people claim Lauren would never do what the defendant (said she) did. [...] the defendant just happens to have a disposable camera with him. (Something he's never done before.) [...] To show that Lauren is having a great time. [...] After playing on the beach [...] Lauren just takes off hiking. [...] The defendant claims that Lauren was leading on the hike. [...] She was 'much to energetic and he couldn't keep up.' [...] His family testified that he was this fit, outdoors man, yet, he's claiming that he couldn't keep up.

Hum then goes over the testimony of witnesses who observed him lead this climb up to Inspiration Point from the gully.

CH: The testimony of Mr. Omar completely contradicts the defendant's story. He (Mr. Omar) has no motive to lie. [...] Mr. Omar is not the only witness. [...] Mr. Witherow sees the defendant and Lauren on the road when hiking up to Portuguese Point and Lauren is trying to keep up. [...] He sees them three times. [...] Each time the defendant is in front and Lauren is behind. [...] So how is that Lauren leading the defendant and the defendant is having trouble keeping up? [...] The defendant is lying!

(It's now I realize that Brown and Lauren went up to Inspiration Point from the same trail that we went on, Sunday.)

CH: Again, putting aside ALL the evidence at the cliff, autopsy, the bio-mechanical evidence, [...] why would we believe him as to what he said happened there when he lied about everything that happened going up to Inspiration Point!!!!?? [...] Dr. Berkowitz testified that Lauren would not have initiated that hike, or continued to participate in a voluntary manner. It would not have happened. She said, "Absolutely not!" [...] Dr. Berkowitz found the hike really strenuous. [...] She thought that Lauren would not have initiated it and that the defendant was lying.

CH: If the defendant lied about everything else, then why would we believe him when he said that Lauren slipped and fell? It just didn't happen.

It's 11 am. Hum has argued about an hour and 15 minutes. The courtroom is very busy and bustling during the break. Ted comes over and corrals LA Times reporter Jack Leonard. He first asks Jack if he is related to Eric Leonard from KFI. Jack tells him no. Ted then proceeds to complain that the female KFI reporter at the first trial was (or still is) dating DDA Hum. (As if this is a terrible breach of a reporter's ethics.)

At 11:17 am, Hum steps back up to the podium.

CH: ...Other things the defendant told Detective Leslie. Lauren led the defendant out on Inspiration Point. They were going to look at the view. [...] Why didn't they stay on Portuguese Point? [...] Because there were lots of people there. [...] He told Detective Leslie he sat four feet from the edge. [...] A 120 foot drop. [...] That's the area that the defendant said Lauren was running around in. [...] (It's) different than what he told his friend. [...] Different from what he told Detective Brothers.

Hum then shifts to the defense bio-mechanical expert on the way Lauren went over the cliff.

CH: In none of the three different versions does the defendant say that's what happened! (The stumble fall; the trip; the somersault.) [...] (In the first version) ...he says he didn't see her go over. (In the second) he heard and "Oh," and he sees her feet going over the cliff. (In the third version) ...he sees Lauren's left side as Lauren goes over. He saw the back left part of her body with her arms out as she was going over the cliff.

Hum now moves onto the testimony of Mark Thompson, then moves back to inconsistent statements by Brown.

CH: He tells Detective Leslie he couldn't see her in the water. He tells Captain Curcio he looks over the cliff and sees Lauren in the water. [...] He spends five-and-a-half minutes on that 911 call. [...] The call where the defendant claimed he ust can't stop crying. [...] The chuckle on the tape to sunbathers that they will have to get dressed.

Hum then moves onto Brown's behavior at the scene.

CH: He takes his time to undress. He takes the time to kick off his wet underwear before he gets dressed. [...] They bring in the lawyer's wife's double's artner to say different people react differently. [...] Captain Curcio was so devastated, he had to be sent home!!! [...] The defendant wanted to talk about the election!!!! [...] His wet boots! It's all about him! [...] He's concerned about being filmed by the media, his car and his surfboards. [...] During the three hour interview, Detective Leslie testified he hadn't seen a reaction like this in his 10 year career in homicide. [...] He took no responsibility. [...] He blamed Lauren for her death. "It's not my fault. She's the one who wanted to be up there. I just followed her." [...] He volunteered to Detective Leslie that he has photos of her having fun. [...] Only three photos. Then nothing. (If she was having such fun on this hike, why no photos of her on the hike?)

Hum states that Brown told Lieutenant Erickson he heard a slipping sound.

CH: Deputy Falicon (testified) there was no evidence of that. [...] He never mentioned her name during the entire three hour interview. [...] (When the detectives confronted him about his lack of emotion) ...he say he cried on the 911 call.

Hum then moves onto Scott Simonson's testimony and his call to Brown after Lauren's death.

CH: (Scott testified that Brown said) "I can't dwell on it. I have to move on. I can't let it ruin my life. I have to move on." [...] When it's all about him, he's very emotional.

Hum goes over the lies he told Detective Lillienfeld about how the homicide detectives came to his home and stole his computers.

CH: Two days after the murder he's checking out surf reports.

Hum states they had clear evidence of Patty being the "driving force" behind the defendant getting Lauren away from Sarah. Hum then goes over the evidence under the bed with the cut out photos of Sarah's head, the black candles and the black figurines. "That's creepy."

CH: The defendant pointed to it (the point from where he was and where Lauren fell) from the archery range and described it to Brothers and Erickson. [...] "That sloping area" [...] described it and pointed to it from the archery range. They found no child size footprints. [...] All the physical evidence contradicts the defendants story because he's lying.

Hum moves onto Dry Hayes's testimony and the "cheap shot" that Dr. Oppenhaven (sp?) said about Dr. Hayes "is a complete lie. [...] If there was anything to that...." (they would have put on evidence of that.) Hum details Dr. Hayes testimony about Lauren's fall and explains that it had two conditions.

CH: (Dr. Hayes testified) #1. Lauren could not have fallen and had these injuries because they were not consistent with a fall. (Because of that) #2. she had to have been thrown.

Hum points out that Dr. Chinwah who performed the autopsy and Dr. Hayes both came to their conclusions independent of each other.

CH: There's only a limited area that Lauren could have left that cliff and ended up where she was.

Hum then goes over several defense witnesses (most I did not see) and the problems with their testimony. Brown's mother. Mr. Deitzler (sp?), Mark Thompson.

CH: Not a single woman came into court to say anthing nice about the defendant.

(It's not in my notes, but I remember this. I believe it's at this point Hum also points out that the defense did not call Brown's wife to the stand to testify on his behalf. When Hum says this, Patty, who is leaning forward with her elbows on the bench back in front of her, makes a gesture. She moves her hands outward, turning her palms up. When she does that, the bailiff has to come over and speak to her again.)

Hum then talks again about the defense expert, Dr. Oppenhaven. That she is a part-time medical examiner, not board certified in her specialty. She explained that she didn't prepare a report because "...That's where you have to be precise." (I believe it's at this point where Hum goes into more detail about past errors she had in other cases where she completely got the MOD ~manner of death~ wrong, and in one case where she did an autopsy, a murder would have gotten off scott free!)

Hum then moves onto Dr. Beckwith, and that the defense called him to agree with Dr. Oppenhaven. His areas of expertize were SIDS, birth defects or kidney tumors.

CH: Again, it goes to show how desperate they are. [...] Dr. Karim (sp?) testified about [....] He's not board certified; he doesn't do any testing. [...] "Hey, I see signs of disassociation. [...] This condition only lasts for 30 days so I can't test for it." [...] Dr. Siegmund. [...] It's not is particular area of expertise. Again. No Siegmund report.

Hum mentions the golf ball videos and states something to the effect that they were made to show Lauren. All throughout his opening argument, Hum is very passionate in his delivery.

CH: When you look at all the evidence together, one horrible inescapable conclusion. [...] This man threw his daughter off the cliff. He did it.

It's about 12:15 pm and Judge Pastor is asking everyone to be back in the courtroom by 1:15 pm.

To be continued in Part II....

I would like to commend accredited press reporter Denise Nix (who covers a ton of cases for the Daily Breeze at any one time) for taking the time to write out a detailed, five part report on the closing arguments. It's a very detailed account of the closings. I would have sworn she had a copy of DDA Hum's written notes. Well done, Denise, well done.

It's Official: Phil Spector is Moving to a Better Prison

I still don't understand how anyone considers anything regarding Spector newsworthy anymore, but since the accredited press is finally confirming what I thought was another sympathy ploy by Rachelle Short Spector and the Spector's press agent, here's the latest on all things Phil.

According to Linda Deutsch of the Associated Press, Phil Spector is being moved to Pleasant Valley State Prison in Coalinga, the prison where CaliGirl9 originally thought he would go. According to prison officials, Spector is being moved to take care of other outgoing prisoners who need the mental health services at Corcoran.

At Coalinga there's infamous Erik Menendez for Spector to trade notes with, although prison officials indicate Spector will be housed in a "special needs yard" (meaning, kept away from other prisoners in his own private cell) much like the current accommodations.

With Coalinga comes the possibility of catching "Valley Fever." According to Splash News, Valley Fever has killed 16 prisoners in the past four years and Spector is terrified he might get it. Imagine how terrified Lana Clarkson was in the final hours of her life with the barrel of a gun shoved in her mouth.

The new prison will also mean Rachelle will have a longer drive straight up the I-5 to visit her CONVICT husband. How sad. I'm playing my little violin for her.

California Station Fire Claims Two Firefighters

September 2nd, 2009: LA Times Photo Gallery of the Station Fire.

There are several active fires in California right how. However, the Associated Press is reporting that Sunday evening, in the Station Fire north of La Canada/Flintridge and south of Acton, two firefighters lost their lives on Mount Wilson after the vehicle they were in rolled over.

There there are numerous radio, TV and cell phone towers on Mount Gleason that are threatened. The Station Fire has burned over 42,000 acres. It is only 5% contained as I write. Thousands have been ordered to evacuate as over 12,000 homes are in the path of the blaze.

Update!
At least 18 structures have been destroyed by the Station Fire with more in danger today as the fire is predicted to spread and increase in size with the increased dry heat conditions.

Update!
The Station Fire had doubled in size overnight to 85,000 acres. At the current time, Mt. Wilson appears to be safe. LA Now Blog Update

Update! 106,000 acres burned and only 5% contained as of 6:00 pm, August 31st.

Update! September 1st, 2009 It appears Mount Wilson Observatory will be saved.

Thousands Flee Wildfires

Firefighter Hourly

California Dept. of Forestry, Fire Information

Map of Station Fire

LA County Fire Grows Overnight

Updated Fire Map

Phil Spector Farts, the MSM Stops to Listen

Soap-box rant #134.
The only reason I'm writing about this (in a rare for me, "rant" form) to begin with is because y'all out there, T&T's loyal readers keep sending me every story that hits the news with Spector in it, wanting to know if I've seen it and what do I think.

What do I think? To tell the truth, I'm sick of it. Are y'all as sick of it as I am? It will not be soon enough if I never see another mainstream media story (the Associated Press again) about Phil Spector and his latest antics, IN PRISON. That's right, PRISON. Spector is again complaining about being, IN PRISON.

For those of you who have been living in a cave, Phil Spector was found guilty of second degree murder in the death of actress Lana Clarkson on April 13th. He was sentenced to 19 years-to-life on May 29th, 2009.

So here's the latest. Someone in prison made the mistake of giving Spector pen and paper, and now he's writing every single one of his suck-up-fawning-hanger's-on about how terrible things are and how afraid he is, IN PRISON. Apparently, delusional Spector, who is currently housed in the California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison near Corcoran, thinks there is someplace "better" that the California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation (CDC&R) should have placed him because he is in fear for his life. A "better" PRISON with people that are "just like him." Wake up Phil. You are where you belong, among murderers just like yourself.

So this Spector "admirer," (who probably wet himself when Spector wrote him back) passes Spector's letters onto Spector's publicist and suddenly,the Associated Press is reporting everything in these letters as the hottest news since sliced bread. You have to wonder how professional the Associated Press is, when they print Spector's letters from PRISON as news.

Once this story hits the press, California prison officials now have to do an investigation. With our state as broke as it is, unnecessary man hours are spent investigating Spector's latest written antics. And then they have to issue a press statement, dispelling the ramblings of the disgruntled music producer. And that's exactly what happened. Hours later, the Associate Press publish a statement issued by the DOC&R, that prison officials spoke to Spector and he states he's not fearful. Did the AP get two news stories out of a few rambling, delusional letters?

Let me address the "former Playboy" model label for Rachelle. There's something to be said about "stretching the truth" to it's limits. Rachelle did appear topless in Playboy, but not because Playboy photographed her. What she did was, she sent in a black and white topless photo of herself to Playboy and it was published in their "Grapevine" section. I wrote about that during the first trial! While her photo did appear in Playboy, she was never a model that Playboy "chose" to photograph.

And who cares how many times per week, or how many miles Rachelle drives to visit her CONVICT husband? If she's on the road, at least she's not in front of a camera, protesting his innocence.

I do know there was a hearing in the civil case on Thursday, August 2oth, in Pasadena. I was still too sick from the flu to go find out Judge Jan A. Pluim's rulings on the latest motions.

Phil Spector in pictures, courtesy the LA Times.

Cameron Brown Retrial: Opening Statements Part I

Monday, July 27th, 2009

(For those of you who are unfamiliar with my trial coverage, I often write late into the night and will put up an unedited entry. The entry is edited much later.)

It's always a rush to make the train but at least today I had 30 seconds to spare and I got a seat. The ride into downtown is eerily similar to when I was attending the Spector trial, but not. What's missing is actually something nice. I don't have the little nagging knot in my stomach I would get when approaching the courthouse wondering about what new drama or intimidation tactic the defendant or his wife would try.

On the train, I close my eyes to rest. The next time I open them we are already at the Wilshire/Vermont station and the subway car is packed; standing room only.

Up on the 9th floor around 8 am it's a virtual ghost town. I know the names of some of the people who work in Judge Pastor's courtroom because my friend Dr. Carroll Adams has been watching trials in that courtroom for the past couple of years. At 8:15 am a tall, lovely woman peeks her head out of 107 and says good morning to me and asks which courtroom I'm waiting on. I tell her I'm waiting for Pastor's courtroom and that I'm a friend of Dr. Adams. She introduces herself. She's Mavis, one of the court reporters that Carroll had mentioned. She says, "Give Dr. Adams our best. We all miss him." I ask her if there was a jury questionnaire and she said yes. However, she said that the defense would not stipulate to pre-screened jurors so every day for four days they had a new panel arrive.

Just then a few counsel-looking individuals come up to enter 107. Mavis points out that the attractive Asian woman is Susan Kim who will be sitting second chair to the prosecutor Craig Hum. Dr. Adams mentioned to me that he will be sorry to miss Hum's opening statement because he's such a fine prosecutor.

A very young, attractive looking dark haired woman sits on the bench beside me. I ask her if she is a juror and she says, no, that she is too young. One of us asks which courtroom the other is waiting for. It just so happens that she's waiting for 107 to open also. Regarding the Cameron Brown case, she offers, "It's interesting case because it's murky." I don't respond to that because I don't know all the facts of the case.

8:20 am: Pat Harris arrives and enters 107 and I believe the young woman goes into the courtroom with him.

8:28 am: Hum arrives with a cart carrying his files and what I believe are clerk staff. A detective looking man is carrying a big black binder that says "MURDER BOOK" on the front of it. I find out later that this is Detective Leslie, and he will be sitting at the prosecution table.

As I wait for the courtroom to be officially opened for the public (when a deputy unlocks the exterior courtroom door) I write a few rambling questions. Was Lauren the type of child to run ahead, to pull away from a parent in new, unfamiliar surroundings? Had she ever been to a location similar to Inspiration Point before (a cliff edge)? Did Brown tell Lauren's mother where he was going to take her that day? Had Brown ever take his daughter hiking up a trail like this before?

8:32 am: The courtroom is unlocked and I get to enter. I take a seat in the second row, almost in line with the witness box but closer to the jury box. I see that Mavis is the first court reporter up. Judge Pastor is already seated on the bench. There is some pleasant banter between Harris and Hum. This is totally different than the apparent tension in Fidler's courtroom for Spector.

Pastor's courtroom is a mirror image of Fidlers'. The only difference would be that the courtroom is a bit narrower and there's not as much room in the well area. There are seat and back cushions on all the benches in Pastor's courtroom and that is a welcome relief. Not long after I attended my first pretrial hearing in Fidler's courtroom back in 2007, he had all the cushions removed from his benches.

Since there isn't that much room in the well area, Pastor has his jurors enter the courtroom via the back row and the side gate to the jury box instead of the one that leads into the well area. There are big signs on the back row that state "DO NOT SIT IN THIS ROW."

I note that the Pastor's regular clerk, Sammie Benson is not here and another much younger woman has taken her place. I almost forgot! While I was waiting in the hallway, I got to say hello and chat a moment with Fidler's clerk, Wendy.

Inside 107, I see that the detective looking man is sitting at the table with Craig Hum. You can see a photo of DDA Hum at this link. There is a very attractive, slender female attorney sitting at the defense table with Pat Harris. It's Lara Veretsian, and a member of the Geragos & Geragos law firm. If you go to the link, you can see photos of Harris and Veretsian. Veretsian is wearing a very form fitting white suit for the first day of trial. I'm reminded of the short, very tight jackets that Rachelle Short Spector used to wear, except instead of pants, Veretsian's suit is a matching skirt that shows every curve of her figure.

Brown's wife, Patty is sitting in the front row. She's wearing a bright turquoise jacket and dark blue print blouse and navy pants. There are several people sitting in the second row to my left. I don't know who anyone is at this point but I'm assuming they are all friends of the victim's mother, Sarah. Once I've identified Sarah, I forget to write down what she is wearing. Over at the clerk's desk in the far left corner of the courtroom, I notice there is a model elephant with tusks. From here, it looks like it stands about 10" tall.

Hum has placed a slew of binders on the table in front of him. I take the time to count them. There are seventeen, two-inch green binders and three more exactly like those on the table behind him. The court reporter and the court clerk and setting out pens and big white binders on the jury chairs. I find out later that there is 3-ring, loose-leaf lined paper in the binders for the jurors to write on. While they are getting this set up, I ask Mavis how Judge Pastor numbers the chairs in his jury box. There are a total of 18 seats; two rows of nine swivel chairs and a row of seats in the well in front of the jury box. Mavis tells me that the back row starts left to right jurors 1-6 then alternates 1 through 3. The second row left to right is jurors 7-12 and then alternates 4 through 6. I notice that there is a blue table skirt around the front of the combined defense and prosecution tables that hold three chairs a piece. There are also narrow tables and chairs in the well behind the counsel tables. It's very crowded in the well area.

When Brown enters the courtroom from the holding area, I note that he looks even thinner than I remembered. He's clean shaven, which is different from when I saw him in 2008, and his hair is cut short and styled. While he's sitting at the defense table he's putting on his tie.

At 8:40 am, the courtroom is called into session. There is a stipulation by both parties that if there are any issues to discuss, both parties are to be here. There are some issues that the defense wants to bring up before opening statements begin. The first issue has to do with whether or not the prosecution can mention (through stipulation or through witnesses) that the police made several attempts to interview Brown before he obtained an attorney. It appears that the case law Judge Pastor is leaning on is People v. Walby (sp?). Even from the bench Pastor states that he was having trouble understanding the Walby ruling decision. Pastor eventually rules that this information can come in. Hum agrees with Pastor that the information is not offered for establishing evidence of guilt. Pastor states that there will be a limiting instruction. I believe it's Hum who states there's an offer that the police did a thorough investigation. Pastor asks Hum how many occasions did LE attempt to contact Mr. Brown. Hum replies something to the effect, "....two to three times." And with that, Patty erupts with a comment of her own as to how often the police came.

Pat Harris whips around and in a very loud voice, says, "PATTY!" He says to her something like, "Enough." or "Be quiet." I don't have it exactly. And Judge Pastor erupts also with a very stern, angry warning of his own. He's no-nonsense. He tells her they have a two strike rule here. "Mam, if it happens again, you're out!" He tells her that he would rather that she be here, but if she does this again, she's out.

Harris states something to the effect that it's "very much a misdirection of what it is the defense is stating. [...] The defense states the first night, they accused him of murder. [...] They investigated and came up short. [...] And from that point on they focused on Mr. Brown." Harris goes on to state that LE went to Colorado, Ohio and Hawaii and came up empty. "We're saying they accused him the first night and focused on him from then on. [...] They didn't just come two or three times (to his home) they would come two to three times a day. [...] I would venture it was in double digits. [...] From that point on, the investigation was geared towards him. [...]

Judge Pastor (JP): I don't see why you couldn't enter into a stipulation that LE did investigate....[...] I think that type of stipulation doesn't run afoul of Walby. [...] I think it's highly relevant that LE vigorously investigated. [....] Do you think that's possible Mr. Hum?"

I believe Pastor asks Hum when Brown was arrested. Hum gives a date, but it's not clear in my notes if he says this is approximate or the exact date. November 16th, 2003.

Pat Harris (PT): Based on your ruling, I would be willing to work out a stipulation.

Pastor goes onto to share his thoughts on the probative verses prejudicial aspect. "There's going to be evidence whether by testimony or stipulation," he continues. "There's no Fifth Amendment here. There's no Sixth Amendment here."

The next issue that is discussed is the 'LAX incident.' It's not clear in my notes but I believe it's Hum who states, it's "....adjunct to the investigation, but it also goes to the defendant's attitude to the victim's mother [...] and [...] defendants hatred of the victim's mother to get back and hurt the victim's mother [...] and to get what was most dear to her, her daughter. [...] It goes to ongoing behavior. [...] He tried to get her deported. He tried to get her fired from her job. [...] ...continuing course of conduct towards his hatred of the mother. [...] Not only is it apparent on the taped encounter at LAX [...] (he) goes to the police and makes a false accusation of criminal conduct of the mother. [...] (His) efforts to try to get the mother prosecuted is further evidence of (his) hatred."

PH: Her told her that he couldn't talk to her. [...] He tells her he isn't going to talk to her because he has a lawyer.

More people enter the courtroom that appear to be family supporters. One of them smiles at Hum.

Pat Harris says that what he (Brown) said to Ms. Marer, "....now we're going to use that silence to show guilt?"

JP: Is there some more ..... falsely accusing Ms. Marer?

Harris mentions previous phone calls where she (Ms. Marer) threatened him.

Pastor voices his concern of the threat on that specific incident.

PH: I'm not going to use the word stalking [...] but if LE used her to continue to harass him [...] and for him to fear for his safety. [...] This is all geared to his attitude toward Ms. Marer. [...] And he lost a daughter, too, and you're going to hear some pretty nasty phone calls and her side, too. [...] (he was) ordered not to come to the funeral. [...] And also some pretty bad things on Ms. Marer's part.

Pastor asks Hum if he has some final thoughts.

CH: The incident at LAX happened two months after the murder rather than three. I would (?) disagree as to conduct.

JP: I agree. [...] It goes to motive, lack of (?) [...] (and) state of mind; the depth of hatred Cameron Brown may have felt towards Ms. Marer. [...] It's not tangential or (?) to the situation. [...] It's highly relevant; 210 [[...] 350. I do not find the the prejudicial outweighs the probative.

JP: Next!

The defense then brings up several "statements" that Ms. Marer is going to testify to that he objects to. He wants to go over all of them and get a ruling to get these statements out. Harris states that the detectives had several interviews with Ms. Marer, and the detectives took extensive notes. A number of things that came out during her testimony (first trial? grand jury?) that were never turned over to the defense. Mr. Hum (stated) that she never told them before. "Despite our objections, they were let in, Harris states. "She was allowed to testify to a number of things, bad character, of Mr. Brown. [...] We don't believe they should be allowed in."

Harris then goes over seven items in detail.

1. Cameron Brown told her a story of a child who died at the bottom of a cliff near Redondo Beach.

JP: When was the story first told?

Harris states the story was told when they were dating.

2. In testimony at trial she had taken a quarter from his car and supposedly Brown said to her (after she told him) "All you want is money from me."

3. Phone conversation incident. He left the phone and walked away and he didn't pick up the phone for forty minutes. Brown supposedly offered an opinion, that just because you get pregnant doesn't mean you can stay in the US.

4. Several comments she states Brown made about his mother. He didn't want her to have a relationship with his mother. Supposedly Brown stated that she was a bitch and a bad lady.

5. The baby swing. She was walking past a store and sees a swing. She didn't have the money to buy it and he was reluctant to help her with the cost of getting the swing.

6. Allegation from her where she was at her place of business and Brown states she was stealing from the company. (?) have witness (testify) who works for the travel agency. It's double hearsay.

#7 He told her the night they met he was a pilot for American Airlines.

Hum presents his counter arguments to each issue.

Child falling from cliff story: There are a number of reasons that will be relevant. That the defendant was aware of the danger of high cliffs and evidence of malice; relevant to child danger on high cliffs.

25 cents: He got angry that she borrowed twenty-five cents to make a phone call. Defendant says all she wants is money. Relevant to motive of case. Relevant to telling victim her mother is going to jail for stealing his money.

Phone call: Defendant left phone off hook for 40 minutes. That led to the break up of their relationship. It was the last straw.

Brown's attitude about his mother: Ms. Key-Marer wanted Lauren to have a relationship with her grandmother. Brown contends his mother is a bitch. It was a source of concern for Ms. Marer and friction between the two.

Swing. It goes to the issue of Ms. Marer only after him for his money. Ms. Marer states he wouldn't let her talk about the baby. He would shut down and not talk and his refusal to help buy the swing.

Stealing accusation to her job. The call to her work. It's not offered for the truth of the matter. It's relevant to Ms. Key-Marer's state of mind.

Harris rebuts the prosecution's arguments and presents points again, arguing in reverse. Regarding the pilot, it's a stretch to show the nature of the relationship. Regarding the call to work, it's double hearsay. The person who received the call is deceased. There are no phone records.

Pastor asks if this was testimony from the last trial and Hum states it was either not objected to or the objection was overruled. One of the reasons she did not contact Brown again was because of this incident.

I watch as a few people enter 107. One person sits in the second row to my right and another person hands papers to Pastor's clerk. Another woman sits with her and I guess that the younger looking woman is Denise Nix since she takes out a notepad. Nix looks much prettier than her photo on the Daily Breeze's Court Tracker web page.

Harris continues to argue the points. He states that Ham repeatedly took Lauren to meet his mother so the alleged comments are totally irrelevant. In regards to the child falling from the cliff, Harris states the witness is bringing this in as a comedy to show that he know children and cliffs could be dangerous.

JP: I think it's a huge issue. [...] (goes to) intent, motive, state of mind, criminal negligence. I've never had one of these conversations [...] then unfortunately have your own child die that way.

Harris gives an example of a drive by shooting, to try to show that the conversation was either irrelevant....

A still photographer enters around 9:45 am. The clerk asks the cameraman to wait outside until the hearing is over.

JP: Eight issues raised. 1. Relevant. Child dying at (?) establishes knowledge of danger. It's relevant to thought process. and implied malice.

Pastor goes down through each issue, and gives his opinion as to why he thinks each issue is relevant and will be allowed in. He states that the call to work and the accusation will not be offered for the truth of the matter and a limiting instruction will be given to the jury.

JP: All subjects are relevant. I do not find individually or collectively they are more prejudicial verses probative. [...] I will have limiting instructions on several issues.

An issue with another witness's testimony is deferred until they get closer to presenting that witness. Pastor issues that all prosecution exhibits, along with their number will also be identified by a green dot (on the back of the document). The defense documents will have an orange dot. Everyone stipulates to the colors.

The Daily Breeze reporter, Denise Nix asks to take some still photographs. Hum has no objection. Harris has not objection. Pastor tells the reporter he does not want to be photographed himself. The photographer is brought in to photograph Mr. Brown and the attorneys. The photographer is allowed to stand in the doorway behind the clerks desk that goes to the Judge's chambers. I thought that was interesting.

Pastor wants to start immediately at 10 am, but there is still another piece of evidence that the defense is objecting to. It's a last minute piece of evidence that Ms. Marer has recently revealed. "Now Ms. Marer will testify her daughter was taken to a pier and she just now remembers this? [...] Here we are again hours before trial and an items gets plugged up." Harris mentions testimony about Ms. Marer remembering that on the night they had sex "the condom broke."

The resolution of this item isn't clear.

Another issue still not resolved is an email sent July 3rd. Pastor asks Hum if he's going to refer to it in his opening statement. Hum says no. Hum's explanation for the late notice to the defense team: "In all honesty, I must have misplaced it." Pastor states he his concerned. "It's definitely admissible."

We now learn that a juror called in late and opening statements won't start until 10:15 am. The defense is now trying to ask the judge to have Ms. Marer not be in the courtroom for opening statements. Pastor rules that she has a right to be here. He addresses the courtroom that he doesn't was faces made. He doesn't want reactions from the gallery. He's very direct and stern in his address to the gallery.

Harris, Pastor and Hum speak at the sidebar area about the lights that Hum wants dimmed during his opening statements for his overview presentation. During this short period I introduce myself to Denise Nix. I count the number of people to my left. It's seven. There appear to be three young people, possibly clerks in the back row. The young girl I met out in the hallway is sitting in the front row next to Patty. The young girl's features and coloring lead me to make a guess that she might be related to the woman who is co-chair for the defense.

Pastor then asks the attorneys to the bench to go off the record and Susan who I first saw in the hallway is sitting at the prosecution table. While the bench conference is going on, I squint to try to see the three county calendars behind the clerk's desk. It appears that August 6th and 7th and 15th are dark days. Court is also dark the last week in August from the 25th through September 1st. I also have in my notes that court will be in session on Fridays, which is unusual and different from Fidler's courtroom.

As we wait for the wayward juror, Hum paces in the well. Everyone else in the well is sitting but Hum is slowly and methodically pacing.

1o:27 am: Pastor announces that we finally have our wayward juror. Cameron Brown enters the courtroom. It's stated for the record that Detective Jeff Leslie is the "I/O" on the case. I'm not sure what that stands for.

Harris objects to Ms. Marer being in the courtroom during the opening statement. Pastor rules that she can remain during the opening but that she will have to leave during the testimony of other witnesses. I'm surprised about that.

When the jury enters I make quick notes as to the make-up of the jury. I won't know if my observations are spot on until I get a copy of the jury questionnaire.

#1. Young Asian man
#2. Black man
#3. Asian woman
#4. Older black man
#5 Older white man
#6 Black woman
#7 White man
#8 Man, race unknown
#9 Young Asian man
#10 Man
#11 Man
#12 Asian man

Alt 1 Man
Alt 2 Man
Alt 3 White woman
Alt 4 Man
Alt 5 Black woman
Alt 6 White man

Craig Hum greets the jury.

Good morning. This case is about the murder of a four-year-old girl, Lauren Sarene Key. (The evidence will show) the defendant took her on a hike in Rancho Palos Verdes and throwing her into the ocean below. The defendant claims it was an accident.

The defendant is Cameron J. Brown. On the day of the murder he was a 39 year old man, and not the old man (shown here).

The mother is Sara Key-Marer, originally from England. And then there is Lauren Sarene Key.

The defendant met the mother in the fall of 1995. In late December (of that year) she discovered she was pregnant. The defendant wanted nothing to do with having a child. He enjoyed living on a sailboat and throwing luggage for a living. He tried to get her to have an abortion. When she stood firm (against that) ..... He tried to do anything he could to have her deported.

PH: Objection!

JP: Sidebar!

Back on the bench, Pastor states the objection is overruled.

The defendant was unsuccessful in getting Sarah deported. Sarah kept the baby. On August 29th, 196, Lauren Sarene Key was born.

Sarah struggled to raise Lauren on her own. The defendant had no contact with his daughter. He knew nothing about her. He knew where Sarah was and where she was working; he had her phone number, but the defendant made no effort to contact her.

When Lauren was nine-months old, she went to the Orange Co. DA's office to get help. It's not until May of 1998, almost two years after Lauren was born that the defendant finally contacts Sarah. He wasts a paternity test. He signs a statement denying paternity. DNA shows that Cameron Brown is in fact the father.

Sarah has to go back to court to order the defendant to act like a father. The defendant is ordered to pay approximately 1,000 a month in order to support his daughter.

The defendant goes to court to try to get the support amount reduced. To get the support reduced, he requests visitation. The defendant requests 33% visitation and joint custody. The same child he had shown no interest in (up to this point).

It isn't until November, 1999 when the defendant first meets his child. She is three-years-old. A first meeting is arranged and he gets to meet her in a park. The first few meetings go alright. Sarah, wants Lauren to develop a relationship with the defendant's mother and they set up meetings.

Cameron Brown begins making disparaging comments about Sarah to Lauren. In February, 2000, Sarah proposes a solution. Her new husband is willing to adopt Lauren. Brown is ecstatic. He immediately agrees. On the next visit, Brown asks how soon can the adoption be done. He just wants out at the end of the month. And around the same time, the defendant makes a request of the court for a reduction in child support. Sarah notifies the court of the defendant's intent to give up his paternal rights for Lauren to be adopted. This angers Brown who tells Sarah Marer, "I'll get you. What goes around comes around."

The relationship between Sarah and Brown deteriorates. The judge denies the defendant's request for a reduction in his child support. Brown makes a sworn statement to the court that he has 50% custody when he has her less than 2.5 hours a week. He also lies to the court stating he doesn't have full pay due to an injury. The court orders Brown to prove the injury; he can't.

Brown then claims to the court that Sarah is an abusive mother. An investigation into that allegation shows that is a lie as well.

Lauren now, is reluctant to visit with her father. Her behavior and attitude changes. What was once a happy little girl is now nervous and timid. Sarah calls the court, she calls her lawyer and she calls the police, trying to find someone to help her get the court ordered visitation stopped.

By October, 2000, the situation worsens. Brown is paying Sarah 40% of his wages to support Lauren. Brown's new wife, Patty, is fired from her job. (I have in my notes here... Patty presses Brown to adopt...but I don't think that's correct. I think I meant to write that Patty presses Cameron to get custody of Lauren himself. I'm not positive what was said.)

Wednesday, November 8th, 2000. It's a court ordered visitation day. When Lauren arrives at school, she's crying. She doesn't want to go with her father (after school) that day. Most days the defendant's wife would accompany him to pick up Lauren, but not this day. Most visitation days, Brown would take his daughter back to his new wife's condo, but not today.

On this day, the defendant takes his daughter on a hike to a steep cliff. A photo of the area is put up on the bulletin board by the jurors. The defendant pulls his car into a parking lot at Abalone Cove. The defendant and Lauren hike to a playground on the beach below.

Hum states, "The defendant claims the child was bored, that she just took off hiking and that he could barely keep up with her. According to him, Lauren led him along a steep cliff, continuing to lead him on a treacherous path to Inspiration Point."

Lauren was timid, shy and somewhat lazy. Lauren led this man she barely knew out to Inspiration Point. It's an isolated area that can't be seen from the beach below. There were no eye witnesses. The cliff is as high as a ten story building. "The defendant claims that he turned around for a moment and she was gone," Ham says. "The defendant instead, goes down to the nude beach to, he claims, borrow a cell phone."

At 2:58 pm, he talked for five minutes. He never told the 911 operator to hurry. Brown then went to the other side. By going to the nude beach first, he ensure that no one could reach Lauren for ten to fifteen minutes. He went back up the trail and then down the other side. It's 3:15 pm by the time the defendant reacher her body. He picks her up throws her over his shoulder. The defendant gave the first version to the Fire Department. He gave differing versions to detectives. The defendant claimed it was an accident.

Witnesses will testify to Lauren's personality and to her abilities. Witnesses will testify to Brown's hatred of Sarah Key-Marer. You will hear testimony from the coroner and someone from Bio-medical (?) as to Lauren's injuries and how she could and could not have received them.

Of the four years two months and ten days of her brief life, the defendant spent about two weeks (total) with Lauren.

At the conclusion (of this case) the evidence will show Lauren did not slip and fall. The evidence will show the defendant threw her off this cliff.

The prosecution's opening statement is finished and Pat Harris goes up to the podium.

Harris greets the jurors. One of the first things that I always tell juries, is it's what we anticipate the evidence will show. Sometimes, witnesses will get up and say the opposite of what you think. What you will hear is 180 degrees of what you just heard. That's what the evidence will show is (the visitation) that's what he was allowed. He tried to spend more time with Lauren, but Ms. Marer wouldn't.

(My notes here are not clear. I think they state that Ms. Marer would not let Cameron participate in visits with his mother, but I'm not positive.)

Lauren took off. He told them at times she was leading him. Witness testimony will show that people saw her. She was throwing rocks and smiling; happy. They said she went off on a one-and-a-half mile hike. That's not true and the evidence will show that. The evidence will show there's good and bad in (every relationship). They're going to present him as a monster. They have to. So they have to put on evidence to make him appear like that. So they're going to put on witnesses like that. Like that old TV show, (This Is Your Life) ....

The evidence won't show that. Because you're going to see something different about Cameron Brown as a human being. Witnesses are going to come in from Colorado and Hawaii to talk about how he was a very caring human being. Cameron Brown was somewhat of a (naive? human being) and that he never planned things. Cameron Brown, people will talk about him being an outdoors person. (A brief) history of Cameron. Cameron grew up in Colorado. He was a ski instructor in Breckenridge. He moved to California to surf and live on a boat. He married a woman and moved into a condo. (He describes Brown as) ...an outdoors type of person who ran marathons and sat on cliffs for hours.

You will hear about his character. He's not a person who wears his emotions on his sleeve. He was a guarded person, who didn't talk about his life much. He usually asked about other people's lives (verses talking about his own). You will hear him as a parent who didn't care about his daughter and threw her off a cliff. You will see photos of him with Lauren and gifts he gave her. He raised a toast when he (finally) got visitation. He carried her photo in his wallet, the daughter he didn't want.

Ms. Key-Marer kept a journal about his trips. (Visits with Lauren.) Lauren was in Orange County and he lived by the airport. He drove down to see her and pick her up. And this isn't a one way street. This is very important. You will hear testimony of repeated attempts to get more visitation. You will hear friends say, he couldn't wait to take Lauren hiking, surfing.

I look over at Brown and I see him look over at the jury.

(I ?) Admit that Cameron Brown did things that he shouldn't do. Not because he was trying to kill her, but because he didn't know any better.

It's 11:15 am. Harris talks about the "two way street relationship."

She (Ms. Key-Marer) misled. Under penalty of perjury that she met Cam in August when there is a photo evidence she met him in November. They dated two or three times. They and sex. The first time; they had a condom.

Sarah, first told the police when she told Brown she was pregnant, he said, "That's kinda cool."

This isn't someone he didn't like. He did like her. He took her on a trip to Colorado. He met her in a bar one night and they had sex a few weeks later.

Marer came to the US in 1993 and was here illegally. She never paid income tax and you'll hear testimony she's not telling the truth about that.

Harris talks about the abortion issue and the meeting with the counselor at Cam's health insurance, Kaiser. The counselor was advising about everything (all options; not just abortion). Brown asked her to go for counseling. Mr. Brown wasn't even sure it was his child. You will hear a lot of stories about Ms. Marer and her stories. You will hear stories about how he wouldn't loan her money. You will hear stories about how he didn't treat her very well.

The stories all have a common theme. When they interviewed her at first... (she didn't mention them?) All these stories came out only at another proceeding. There are no witnesses to these other stories. All these stories about what Cam said all come from Ms. Marer.

Quickly looking over at the jury, I note that juror #7 appears very attentive.

You are going to hear that she left and that she never contacted him. She leaves, doesn't contact him, so Brown thinks there was another man. So he assumes it wasn't his child.

Child support was never served to him until 1998. He doesn't eve know she's filed for child support. Just so we're clear, and not making light of single mothers, Ms. Marer was married before Lauren was one-year-old. And she had a father. The child has a stepfather.

Harris now moves onto the child support.

That's the norm. When you ask for visitation, support is reduced. That's the norm.

Brown appears to look back at his wife, Patty.

Harris talks about the alleged hatred of Ms. Marer and the child.

The visits went great, in Sarah's own journal.

The (court appointed?) mediators gave both parties information, documentation that children often resist new situations and don't want to go (visit the other parent) and that is the norm.

Witnesses will testify the relationship with Lauren was a loving one but it was hard at first so it was a little awkward.

Harris addresses Cam's relationship with his mother. "Most of the friction was that Sarah would take the child to see his mother and say to his mother, 'Don't tell Cam,' and that was the friction basis."

Harris addresses the "adoption phone call."

Sarah (supposedly?) presented to Cam to let her husband adopt Lauren. That will take away the support and she would still let him see Lauren. But he couldn't be the father.

You're going to hear that's the first time.... (?)

And then she files a court document that he's an unfit father. You're going to hear Cam disputed that. And he was upset that his words were twisted, so he didn't contact her after that. But there's no documentation (by the court mediators?) to support the adoption deal. Cam was upset and told the court he didn't agree to it. After that point, the communication became contentious. Ms. Marer reported Cam to child services. She called the police on him. The contentious relationship between Sarah and Cameron.... communication breakdown.

He (prosecution) says that a crescendo built to this November 8th date. Nothing built up. There were a few accusations back and forth, but it was a typical custody dispute and it was a low level (one).

Cam had filed a motion for reduced support and more visitation in two weeks. You will hear that yes she was crying. But when Cam got there, he spoke calmly to her. She calmed down and wasn't crying.

He didn't take her to a cliff. He took her to a playground, a place that they knew.

Portuguese Point and Inspiration Point. There's twenty-five to thirty houses across the road from Inspiration Point. It's much more in the view of people that Portuguese point. It was that they were just on a walk, and witnesses will testify to that. "Not one person who saw them that day will say that she (Lauren) was upset."

Harris talks about the jury visit and that the site looks a bit different. Harris addresses the rush for a cell phone and the 'no hurry.' "That's the point of calling 911. You shouldn't have to tell them to hurry. [...] He does sound nonchalant and you will hear that he was off by himself." He asked about the election. "He was dazed."

Harris continues to address Cam's demeanor after the child's death. That night, they never took him up to the cliff. He cooperated. He was very cooperative. Detectives Leslie and Smith showed up. Detective Leslie that night waited two hours before he accused him of murdering his child. Detective Smith won't show up in this case. He called Cam's friends "assholes." Good cop, bad cop.

Detective Leslie is very good with a recorder and he tape recorded several witnesses. He didn't tape Cameron Brown. Not one with Cameron Brown..... interesting.

He gets accused that night. He goes home and his family hires him an attorney and he's advised not to talk.

The prosecution tried to find a forensic expert. Again, very charming Dr. Toby Hayes, very charming. He will tell you that if you throw something forward you will go back. They went out to (Inspiration Point) to do tests. They tied a rope around him. To throw a box off a cliff they tied a rope around him to keep him from falling. A defense expert will present evidence of what happens on a cliff (when you throw something).

Far from being the monster...that Cam was a warm human being. He was a godfather to another child and gave her gifts. The evidence will overwhelmingly show that Cameron Brown loved his child. You will hear that Cameron Brown lost a daughter also.

We reach the noon hour and since we started late, Judge Pastor wants to make up some of that time. He tells the jurors to return by 1:15 pm.

To be continued with the first witness testimony of Sarah Key-Marer. I'm almost a week behind in covering this trial. It will be hard to catch up because Judge Pastor holds court on Fridays, unlike Judge Pastor.

On a side note, Pastor runs his courtroom a bit differently than Judge Fidler does. It's an interesting change. He's a totally different personality with his jury and his witnesses. Understand, since this is not a high-profile defendant, there's hardly anyone in the gallery besides the friends of Lauren's family and the defendant.

Phil Spector Moves Into Corcoran

UPDATED!

According to Harriet Ryan of the Los Angles Times, Phil Spector has been moved to permanent digs in Corcoran. He's in a medium security, special needs unit. There's no question this is a prisoner who has "special needs."

His wife Rachelle appears happy about the move. According to Linda Deutsch of the Associated Press, Rachelle claims her husband was mistreated at the North Kern County facility. Now that Spector is all settled in, I'm wondering if Rachelle will move to Corcoran (or a cozy little house in Fresno) to be close to her husband like she recently indicated in prior news reports.

I was quite bemused to learn this from Harriet's article:

"Spector will be permitted to have musical instruments in his cell, and inmates in his unit often sing and play music together, [prison spokesperson Stephen] Smith said."

I can envision it now, Spector creating a new prison-wall of sound with his fellow inmates. T&T readers, are you wondering as we are if Rachelle will have the chauffeur drive her up to sing on a few selections? Maybe the CD will be in stores for the many Phil Spector fans out there, just in time for the holidays. But I wouldn't get your hopes up too quickly. Phil may decide to wait a bit until he releases his next big production. There still is that pesky wrongful death suit looming on the horizon.

Update: June 24, 2009

Linda Deutsch from the Associated Press has written a newer article with more quotes from Rachelle Short (Spector) about her husband's requests. From the article:

"He wants a TV and an iPod or something like that for listening to music," Rachelle Spector said Tuesday. "And he would like to be able to receive e-mail."

Good luck with that email request Phil As far as Spector creating any new music in prison, Rachelle had this to say:

"He has not requested an instrument, and I doubt if he will," she said.

One never knows what the future may bring. It's still all very new and it will take a while for Spector to get acclimated to his private cell and surroundings. Spector could change his mind in the future about wanting an instrument. In time, he could show an interest in guiding his fellow inmates in their musical careers or orchestrating a live performance.

Phil Spector Sentencing Today

UPDATE: 6:00 pm
I'll be on TALK RADIO ONE tonight around 8:00 pm.

I'm finally home. I wanted to give y'all a little update on what happened after the sentencing as well as report on some news I missed. I forgot to mention that very late, Juror #1 showed up and greeted the other jurors. She got a seat inside the courtroom with #7, #18 and #8. I did not see my friend LS get a seat, but they did get inside the courtroom right before Linda-from-San-Diego.

Rachelle was dressed down, compared to other outfits she has worn to court. It was a loose fitting pantsuit. She wasn't wearing those four or five inch heeled pumps and not much makeup on her face. Her hair was worn straight down, and her roots were showing. She also needs a good trim. Her split ends made Linda Kenny Baden's hair during the first trial look good. After the sentencing, a trial watcher informed me that in the parking lot before the sentencing, they observed Mrs. Spector and first defense team attorney Roger Rosen, right by the I {heart} Phil-mobile standing very close together and exchanging some intimate touching. I've zero idea what that's all about.

It was very difficult to hear from where I was sitting. There was a lot of moving around of sheriffs and detectives right by the door and the PIO staff.

Before the sentencing, the "Team Spector" button wearing fan made a point to send her "Back to Mono" button wearing fan over to me to tell me that she was not a "fan" but a personal friend of Spector. She was sitting across from me in the hallway, reading on the blog what I was writing about her. After she told Miriam Hernandez from Channel 7 that she last spoke to Spector at the closing arguments, she made a point to come over to me herself and say that she spoke to Spector on the phone yesterday. I didn't overhear her tell Miriam that and I would think that if she did speak to him on the phone yesterday, why did she say it was at the closing arguments? Did she at first forget? It made me wonder.

There were quite a few people who had never been in the courtroom that showed up and got a seat. Sherri was the only one who didn't get in and I heard afterwards that she was quite disappointed.

When the sentencing was over, out in the hallway Linda Deutsch was asking me what jurors were in the courtroom and I answered her. Several other reporters immediately picked up their pens and were scribbling what I said. These were all new reporters who would not have known what the jurors looked like to begin with.

Several of us wanted to go to the DA's press conference and we headed up to the 18th floor. Our hopes were soon dashed when the security guard told us that since we were not press we could not attend. We thought that maybe we could wait until Alan Jackson came up because when we left, he was still inside the courtroom, talking to the jurors who attended the sentencing in the gallery. The security guard told us we could not wait in the elevator area. We would have to vacate the floor.

Not long after the verdict was read, through a coincidence, LS found out where Spector went to lunch through both trials. It was at the little restaurant in the plaza of the Catholic Church on Temple Street. After the sentencing, I treated Linda, LS and one of T&T's regular readers (who could not attend much of the trial) Deidre, to lunch at this little cafe. The food was good and inexpensive. We talked about the trial and what a long road it's been. Not long after we sat down, we saw that three of the jurors from the second trial were having lunch at another plaza table about ten yards away. After their lunch was finished, one of the jurors, smiling, came over to sit with us. I gave my word that I would not repeat anything the juror discussed with us, but it was a delightful, almost two hour chat about what went on inside the jury room. We also shared with the juror what went on outside in the gallery regarding motions and pleadings outside their presence.

We learned that the defense had an impromptu press conference in the elevator bay on one of the floors (I think the 12th) where Rachelle spoke to the press. We were slightly disappointed to have missed that but not very.

About an hour ago, I spoke to Dominick Dunne on the phone and updated him on the sentencing. I asked him about his book, A Solo Act and he said it should be in stores in early December. Dominick also said that today, he has felt better than he has in over a year. "Let's hope this lasts for a while," he said.

Below is a complete transcript of Donna Clarkson's victim impact statement, courtesy of John Taylor, the Clarkson family attorney.

DONNA CLARKSON, mother of LANA CLARKSON, gave the following statement in open court at the Phil Spector sentencing hearing today:

“Lana was my first child, my oldest child, a precious gift.

She was the big sister to Fawn and Jeff and always helped me care for the two of them. Family was important to her and we all spent a lot of time together.

Lana had a great sense of humor. She was very funny and fun to be with. She made everybody laugh. Lana was caring, spiritual, very smart and hard working. She was generous.

She lit up a room when she walked into it. She viewed life as the glass half full. She was the eternal optimist, not only for herself, but for all of us.

She was a fan of everybody and was a cheerleader for everyone.

She was loyal to her friends. She was a great listener and took the time to listen, because she was interested. She remembered people’s names, birthdays, and things that were special to them. Lana made people feel important, because she believed that each person was important.

From the time she was a small child reciting nursery rhymes, Lana knew she would be an actress. She was a working actor her entire adult life. she was the consummate professional...always on time, prepared, and enthusiastic. She loved her craft.

I’m very proud of Lana and the wonderful and special person she was. I’m proud to be her mother.

More than six years ago, February 3, 2003, Lana was taken from us.

No one should suffer the loss of a child - it’s not the normal way we expect life to go.

Since that day, I have prayed for the truth to be told. I prayed for the faith and strength to endure the process. My overwhelming sense of loss was heightened by the trials.

The pictures were extremely shocking and painful. It was hard for us not to correct all the misinformation we heard concerning Lana. As I sat in the courtroom I just wanted to raise my hand and say “Excuse me, your honor...May I clarify these points?”

We have remained silent to help ensure a fair trial, so the truth could be ascertained.

The impact of Lana’s loss has changed all of our lives. I can no longer spend time with her and just have lunch or go to a movie, or go shopping. Her sister, Fawn, and brother, Jeff, no longer have their big sister to share their lives with.

All our plans together are destroyed. Now I can only visit her at the cemetery.

There is a hole in our hearts. My beautiful daughter, I miss you so. I miss looking into your extraordinary and vibrant eyes.

I trust the Court will be fair.

Thank you.”

I have to admit that while she was reading her statement I started to cry, because it sounded at times like her voice was about to break.

Harriet Ryan of the Los Angeles Times coverage of the sentencing.

Steve Mikulan of the LA Weekly tweeted from the courtroom on todays proceedings.

AFP report on the sentencing.

Linda Deutsch of the AP reports.

One short video clip on the sentencing.
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11:25 am: Spector is quickly taken from the courtroom. People start to mill out.

11:20 am: He is not entitled to and good time work credits. Restitution has been made. Judge reads the amounts. Defentant must pay an additonal 200 to victim fund; 25 court security fee and one other 200.00 fee. Judge checking on any other fees. Fidler states that restitution will be paid to any civil judgement.

Weinberg requests that medical records be transfered with him "forthwith." He also requests that he be transfered to Dept. of Corrections as quickly as possible. Riordan waives reading of apellate issue. That's it. Nothing else.


11:12 am: Judge: We have to discuss the law. He discusses case law. There is a case that Judges cay not considerthe mitigatin (Lincoln makes that clear).

There are two addtiona matters. There has been no motion for a new trial. Old case, people verses Edgeman.(sp?) That was ruled that it was incompentence of counsel, not to ask for a new trial.

Weinberg answers, and then makes the motion for a new trial.

Judge states he reviewed the jury verdict and denies the motion for a new trial.

Now goes over the restitution to Fawn Clarkson, plus 10% interest since time of sentencing. You can either accept that, or set aside hearing.

Weinberg states that they will tender restitution. They've prepared two cashiers checks. Court will find that restitution has been made.

Jackson accepts the restitution. Tabling the issue of the disclosure.

Fidler mentions his request for looking into the financial records. AJ speaks on behalf of the family and accepts for the family.

Ed Lozzi sent a letter to the Judge. Will not affect sentencing.

Mr. Spector to you want to be heard at all? No.

The defendant is inellgble for probation. Sentenceine to term 15 years to life. For the enhancement, the court selects the presumptive mid term of 4 years. He gets credit for time served. Plus the one day when arrested 47 days credit. Judge is checking something in a book.

11:11 am: AJ brings up all the other incidents of a gun that the court heard. "There are agravating circumstances ahat are attendant in this case.... we believe that is a just sentence."

10:10 am: AJ wants to be heard only briefly. He reads code law pleading for the four years.

11:07: Weinberg speaks. Spector still disputeds the ruling. Weinberg goes through his motion for 3 years for the gun charge. He goes through the aggrivating throug hte mitigating issues. The extra year may affect how his circumstances of his incarceration.

11:04 am: Donna Clarkson will speak. Her voice starts to break. Lana had a sense of humor and made everyone laugh. She was smart hardworking. She lit up a room when she walked in. She was the enternal optimist. not only for herself but for everone. She was a chealrlead, she was loyal to her friend.s and a great listener. She rememberped people and hteir birhtdas. Lana made you feel important because she felt each person was.

From the time she was a small child, she knew she would be an actress. I know what a wonderful special person she was, I'm proud to be her mother. nO one should suffer the loss of a child.
since that time I've prayed for the truth be told the strenght for the rpocess.

Al though the trial I wanted t rais my ahd and say excuse me your honor, can I clarify these points. There his a hold in our heart our beautful daughter, I miss you so I miss looking into your beautiful and vibrant eyes.
I trust the court to be fair.



11:03 am: Spector has entered weraing a brown wig. Fidler takes the bench.

11:01 am: Four sheriff's around the defense table. The bailiff from the second trial is not here. Another sheriff just cam in from the jail area. Several detectives are standing near the door along with a sheriff.

10:59 am: There are three camers pointed at the defense table. Weinberg, his paralegal, Susan and Riordan are there.

10:58 am: A few more minutes to sentencing. Pat Dixon arrived and Joshua is here. 10:57 am: Linda-in-San-Diego got in, but Sherri did not get a seat yet. Spector's bodyguard is in the back row. LS and Sherri didn't get a seat.

10:55 am: Louis and Frieda are in and a few public. Susan Mattros hugs Rachelle who is sitting in the first row.

10:54 am: Lana's family enters. I get waves and smiles from Fawn, Rod Lindblom, Bill Ferguson and John Taylor. 10:53 am: Just a warning. My real time, fast typing is terrible, and full of typos so be forewarned.

10:52 am: Maryann, one of Lana's friends smiles and waves to me as she enters 106.

10:48 am: Many in the media are sitting in the jury box. there are cameramen there. Harriet Ryan arrives. She sits down at the other end with Steve Futterman from CBS. They are still trying to get the connection going to use the internal wiring of the building to send out their feed to their network. I just heard it's not working. There is a video camera near the witness box and several cameramen in the jury box. While I was waiting to get in, one of the Sheriff's brought out a huge standing mirror. It must have been about 15" tall and 12" inches wide. That was most likely for Spector to check his makeup.

10:47 am: I'm inside 106 sitting against the back wall with Steven Mikulan to my left and beside him Miriam Hernandez. Many of Spector's fans in the hallway got seats. The jurors got seats. Dennis Riordan is here. More press arrives.

10:40 am: The hallway is really bustling. Nili Hudson comes over to give me a hug.

10:38 am: I just pulled my only string and it worked. I will get seat after the media is seated. Steve Mikulan from the LA Weekly arrived and told me "No game playing" pointing at my laptop. That Steven; always the jokester.

10:34 am: Alan Jackson shows up. He greets Juror #9 from the first trial and quickly enters 106.

10:31 am: Two jurors from the first trial are chatting with two jurors from the second about the lunches they would be served. The alternate #18 comes up and joins them.

10:28 am: Liz is taking the names of all the jurors from the two trials who showed up. It appears they will get seats.

10:26 am: Rachelle went into 106.

10:24 am: #9 from the first trial introduces me to one of the alternates from the first trial who came down.

10:20 am: Just a reminder, I have no idea if I will get a seat from the lottery or not. It will depend on how many reporters show up .

10:16 am: Earlier, I heard Allan Parachini state that he has received no requests from any family members for seats for the sentencing. The sheriff's bring out the pink suitcase. That must be what the wig was carried in.

10:14 am: Louis and Frieda arrive. They hug a woman with short black hair. Juror #9 from the first trial arrives and I direct him on where to get a ticket.

10:12 am: Linda Deutsch rounds the corner from the elevator bay. She stops to talk to a gentleman at the center of the hall.

10:11 am: Answering a comment. It's doubtful the presser will be streamed since the sentencing is not going to be streamed.

10:10 am: The hallway is now filling up with reporters and general public.

10:08 am: I was wrong the jurors did not go in already. They are still in the hallway. Rachelle arrived with a bright pink suitcase and a suit for Spector to wear. Her hair is down. This is the first time I've seen her hair down since the first trial.

10:07 am: A T&T reader stops by to introduce themselves to me.

10:06 am: I see Weinberg speaking to another gentleman at the end of the hall near the elevators.

10:04 am: Linda tells me the other juror is #8.

10:01 am: I got my red ticket. The three jurors who showed up got into the courtroom already.

I have no guaranteed seat. 9:56 am: I see three of the jurors have shown up. #7, #18 and I can't remember which number the other juror is. I think I see Carrol Connors. Sure looks like her.

9:55 am: Just about an hour to go.

9:54 am: I just learned from Gary (who I met during verdict watch) that the camera is just for TV. The sentencing will NOT be live streamed anywhere on the Internet.

9:51 am: Lisa and Kathie arrived. They went on vacation (not together) the week before a verdict was reached.

9:50 am: The pool camera showed up and entered 106 to get set up.

9:46 am: The group of reporters are talking with Parachini again. I forgot to mention that Sherri arrived about 10 minutes ago. She, Linda and LS are all sitting together on the bench at the end of the hall. Mostly the hallway is quiet now and I can almost hear what Allan is saying to Miriam.

9:43 am: The jurors fro 105 finally get to go into their courtroom so the hallway has thinned out a bit.

9:41 am: The blond hands Miriam her card. Down with the reporters I see a familiar reporter-face but I don't know his name. I think he's in radio though.

9:38 am: Miriam Hernandez comes over to speak to the "Team Spector" wearing blond who tells her the last time she spoke to Spector was at the closing arguments. I think I over hear her tell Miriam that "Rachelle has been very depressed" but I'm not positive on that.

9:35 am: The clerk for Department 105 calls for her jurors. They are all standing by the door, waiting to get in.

9:31 am: Miriam Hernandez from local ABC Channel 7 is down near the center of the hall chatting with Terri Keith and Mona. I do not see a camera operator yet, but it's still early.

9:30 am: I find out that the young people wearing the badges are all interns in the DA's office. A young woman told me that they are "supposed" to wear them.

9:25 am: Some of Spector's bodyguards from the first trial spoke to the press. The man who was the single bodyguard during the second trial doesn't appear to be among the roup.

9:23 am: Mrs. Benson from courtroom 107 calls for her jurors.

9:21 am: Ah. I see Spector's #1 fan hanging out near the women's restroom. She's nervously pacing.

9:19 am: There are quite a few people standing around, many with bades on them. I'm not close enough to see what department they are with. I also see some reporters I've never seen before. It's obvious because they have lanyards with their photo as another press card.

9:07 am: I'm on the 9th floor. I splurged and drove into downtown today. Linda-in-San-Diego is here as well as my friend LS (law student) who has taken a rare break from their 24/7 studies for the bar in July.

In the lobby I saw a young woman wearing a "Team Spector" button with a woman friend who is wearing a "back to mono" button. Right now she is sitting directly across from me in the hall. The "Team Spector" bottle blond fan is a study in color. She is wearing a blue gray print dress with a gray sweater, wide black belt, Pippi Longstocking knee-high, black and gray striped socks with open-toed blue suede heels as well as carrying a large hot pink plastic purse.

Just a moment ago I saw Lisa from the DA's office rolling a cart into courtroom 107. She worked on the Spector case behind the scenes. She must be working on a case before Judge Pastor. Allan Parachini, Department Head of the Court's Public Information Office is already here.

I now see Terri Keith from City News talking to Allan Parachini and I think I see the sketch artist, Mona, who I met at the Blake trial along with another gentleman.