Judge allows testimony about Spector's 'women hatred'
The judge in the Phil Spector murder trial has reversed his decision not to let jurors hear from a security guard who claims he once heard the music producer say all women should be shot in the head.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Larry Fidler ruled on Monday that the testimony of a retired New York City police detective should be presented to the jury because Spector's alleged threat was so similar to the later fate of shooting victim Lana Clarkson.
Former cop Vincent Tannazzo had earlier testified - without the jury present - that he was forced to eject Spector from two Christmas parties hosted by comedienne Joan Rivers in New York in the mid-'90s.
At one of the parties, Tannazzo said he noticed the producer had a gun tucked into his waistband, and when Spector moved his hand towards the weapon, the guard told him he'd "blow his brains out" if he unholstered the gun.
Tannazzo claims Spector then uttered an obscene word to describe women and added, "They all deserve a bullet in their head."
Prosecutor Alan Jackson told the hearing: "It sheds a probative light on how he felt about Lana Clarkson. It shows a misogynistic state of mind, how he feels about women."
Spector is accused of fatally shooting Clarkson at his Alhambra, California home in February 2003.
He has pleaded not guilty and claims Clarkson shot herself.
The trial continues.
