Spector Judge Rejects Option of Manslaughter

Saying it would imply a guilty verdict of some kind is the goal, the judge in Phil Spector's murder trial today decided against having deadlocked jurors deliberate a lesser charge of manslaughter. The jury said yesterday it was split 7-5 after seven days of deliberation over the charge facing the music mogul in the 2003 shooting of actress Lana Clarkson.

Both the prosecution and the defense argued against the manslaughter charge during the trial, but this morning the prosecution reversed course, the Los Angeles Times reports. The judge had previously dismissed the involuntary manslaughter charge because Clarkson was shot by a gun placed in her mouth—an intentional murder, according to the prosecution, or suicide, according to Spector's defense. (More Phil Spector stories.)