Phil Spector trial: Day 34
Actress Lana Clarkson was so depressed about her career that she wanted to die, club promoter Punkin Laughlin testified today (July 16) in the Phil Spector murder trial.
Laughlin, also known as Punkin Pie, said that Clarkson was her best friend, and that the actress called her crying and upset about her acting career only a few days before the her death at Spector's Los Angeles mansion on February 3, 2003.
Spector is accused of murdering Clarkson, whom he had met at the House of Blues in Los Angeles only hours before. The defence contends the actress' death was an accidental suicide.
Laughlin told the jury that Clarkson said: "I don't want to live anymore. I don't want to live in this town. I want to end it."
She added: "Clarkson was crying uncontrollably. She said, 'Pie I can't take any more...I'm done, done, done.' "
Laughlin was the latest in a series of witnesses to report that Clarkson was despondent about her financial troubles, career difficulties, and lack of a stable relationship, reports the Los Angeles Times.
When cross examining the witness, Deputy District Attorney Alan Jackson asked Laughlin why she had never mentioned this to investigators in previous conversations. Laughlin answered that she was trying to protect her friend. |
Phil Spector trial: Day 14
Phil Spector's murder trial continued in Los Angeles today (May 29) with testimony from the coroner who examined actress Lana Clarkson after her death.
Dr. Louis Pena said that the barrel of a gun may have been forced into Clarkson's mouth, causing the bruises discovered on her tongue.
"The bruise is very unique and is consistent with blunt-force trauma. Something struck the tongue," said Pena.
Spector is accused of murdering actress Clarkson on February 3, 2003 at his Los Angeles mansion. The defence contends her death was suicide.
Pena also testified that Clarkson had bruises on her right arm and wrist, and called her death a homicide.
Pena said that he found Clarkson to be a hopeful person with no history of depression, and that there was no evidence of her getting her affairs in order prior to her death.
The coroner said she had been taking two drugs often prescribed for depression, but a neurologist had prescribed them for her chronic headaches, reports the Associated Press.
He also testified that the gunshot went through Clarkson's head, severing her spine, and that her death would have been almost instantaneous.
Jurors were also shown graphic photographs of the murder scene and the damage done to Clarkson, causing at least one juror to turn away. |
Interpol map US dates
Interpol are gearing up for a short tour of the US, kicking with a couple of festival performances.
The band will play KROQ's Weenie Roast in California, and Sasquatch! in Washington before heading out for a string of their own shows in July.
Currently preparing for the release of their third album 'Our Love To Admire', the record will be preceded by a single 'The Heinrich Maneuver'.
The dates are:
Irvine, CA Verizon Wireless Amphitheater KROQ Weenie Roast (May 19)
George, WA Sasquatch Music Festival (27)
Dallas, TX - The Palladium (31)
Big Day Out 99x Radio Show - Atlanta, GA - HiFi Buys Amphitheater (June 2)
Chicago, IL - The Metro (3)
Live 105 BFD 07 - San Francisco, CA - Shoreline Amphitheater (9)
Rochester, NY - Harro East Ballroom (July 19)
Atlantic City, NJ - Music Box @ Borgata (20)
Norfolk, VA - Norva (21)
Cleveland, OH - House of Blues (23)
Pittsburgh, PA - Byham (24)
Columbus, OH - The LC Ampitheatre (25)
Grand Rapids, MI - Orbit Room (27)
Detroit - MI State (28)
Milwaukee, WI - Rave (30)
Indianapolis, IN - Egyptian (31)
St. Louis, MO - Pagent (August 1)
Covington, KY - Madison Theatre (3) |