LOS ANGELES – Prosecutors in the Phil Spector (search) murder case asked a judge to allow statements the music producer made to police shortly after an actress was shot to death at his home in 2003 to be used at his trial.
Spector's lawyers have argued the statements he made after Lana Clarkson (search) died should be thrown out because he was suffering withdrawal symptoms from seven prescription drugs when he talked to police.
But Deputy District Attorney Douglas Sortino said in papers filed with the court Friday that he plans to use a statement in which Spector allegedly said he accidentally shot Clarkson.
According to grand jury transcripts, a police officer testified that right after Spector was handcuffed, he said, "What's wrong with you guys? What are you doing? I didn't mean to shoot her. It was an accident."
Spector's defense attorney Bruce Cutler said Saturday his client did nothing wrong on the night Clarkson died.
"Mr. Spector denies he shot anyone at his house and denies he said he shot anyone," Cutler said. "We have made motions to suppress certain statements that were not admissions and were illegally obtained."
The prosecutors also urged Superior Court Judge Larry P. Fidler to forbid Spector's defense team from mentioning Spector's allegation that Clarkson committed suicide during key portions of the trial.
Spector, known for creating rock music's "wall of sound," has pleaded not guilty and is free on $1 million bail. He faces life in prison if convicted.
Clarkson starred in Roger Corman's cult film classic "Barbarian Queen" and had been working as a hostess at the House of Blues (search) on the Sunset Strip.
A hearing on the admissibility of the statements is scheduled for Thursday and likely will last several days, said Sandi Gibbons, a spokeswoman for the district attorney's office.
The judge has said he expects the trial to begin in January.
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