(AP)
LOS ANGELES – An appeals court panel has rejected a request to halt the retrial of Phil Spector, the music producer accused of killing an actress in 2003.
The decision from the 2nd District Court of Appeal came Friday. Defense attorneys had requested a stay on the trial so they could appeal the case on double jeopardy grounds. They also wanted an assurance that prosecutors would not ask jurors to convict Spector on lesser offenses of manslaughter.
Spector's first trial resulted in a jury deadlock on a second-degree murder charge.
The 68-year-old Spector is charged with killing actress Lana Clarkson at his Alhambra mansion in 2003. His retrial is set to begin Oct. 2. Prosecutors have not indicated whether they will seek a conviction on lesser offenses.
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