Spector’s DNA found on victim’s breast, not on gun that killed her
A small amount of genetic material matching Phil Spector’s DNA profile was found on Lana Clarkson’s left breast, a courtroom expert testified Tuesday.
But his genetic profile was not detected on the revolver used to shoot the actress, a Los Angeles County criminalist testified in the murder trial of the legendary record producer.
Sheriff’s criminalist Steve Renteria also said DNA matching Lana Clarkson’s genetic markers was found in Spector’s groin area. The DNA matching both Clarkson’s and Spector’s profiles most likely was from saliva, although Renteria said experts could not be sure.
Renteria also said he detected the presence of DNA, again most likely saliva, from someone other than Spector or Clarkson in a different part of Spector’s genitalia.
The DNA evidence could suggest sexual contact between Spector and Clarkson, but prosecutors and defense attorneys would not say whether they will argue such activity occurred.
Spector attorney Christopher J. Plourd said outside the courtroom that “what the evidence really shows depends on how jurors view the evidence. It’s just part of the total picture.”
Loyola Law School professor Stanley Goldman, who was in the courtroom, said the defense might benefit if jurors believed the evidence showed consensual sexual activity, undercutting the prosecution’s theory that Clarkson was trying to leave Spector’s home after rejecting the producer’s advances when she was shot.
“Anything that takes the jury away from the theory neatly laid out by the prosecution helps the defense,” Goldman said. But he added that “the D.A. could argue [any intimate contact] was under the threat of being shot.”
Spector has pleaded not guilty to the charge he murdered Clarkson, contending the 40-year-old actress shot herself. Prosecutors say Spector shot Clarkson after she joined him for a nightcap at his Alhambra castle Feb. 3, 2003.
Renteria said the DNA on Clarkson’s breast would match only one in about 14 billion Caucasians -- a purely hypothetical figure since it is more than double the entire world population.
The DNA taken from Spector’s groin area, on the other hand, would match one in 94,000, Renteria said.
Prosecutor Alan Jackson, in his questioning, tried to show it was not certain that the groin DNA belonged to Clarkson by noting that more than 90,000 people work for Los Angeles County. So even among county workers, there could be another person who would match the DNA, he suggested.
“So you could not say Lana Clarkson’s DNA appeared on Phil Spector’s [groin area]?” Jackson asked.
“That’s correct,” Renteria replied.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
