Spector’s lead lawyer departs case
The often-absent lead defense lawyer in Phil Spector’s murder trial announced Monday that he is leaving, and the music producer said outside court that he decided the attorney should depart.
Bruce Cutler’s announcement came just hours before the testimony phase of the case came to a close five months after it began with jury selection. The judge in the case said final arguments will be presented Sept. 5-6, with jury deliberations to begin the following day.
Spector told reporters he decided that Cutler, who had been absent for several weeks while taping a syndicated TV show, “shouldn’t do the closing argument because it wouldn’t be in my best interest.”
Spector, 67, is charged with murdering actress Lana Clarkson in his Alhambra mansion on Feb. 3, 2003, a few hours after she went home with him from her job as a nightclub hostess.
The defense maintains Clarkson, 40, was depressed and shot herself in the mouth.
Spector said he felt that Cutler no longer had a connection with the jury because of his long absence and that Superior Court Judge Larry Paul Fidler didn’t like Cutler.
“I thought he would be a target with the judge and prosecutors and that he wouldn’t be taken as seriously as he should. With his television show, he wasn’t here as much as he should have been,” Spector said.
Cutler has insisted in statements to the judge and the press that he would deliver the final remarks. He said he followed the case on TV and read transcripts while he was away starring as a judge on “Jury Duty.”
“I said that he shouldn’t do the closing argument and that it wouldn’t be in his best interest to stay on. He agreed,” Spector said in the hallway as he left the courtroom at midday.
In court, Cutler arose and addressed the judge.
“There’s a difference of opinion between Mr. Spector and me on strategy,” the attorney said.
“There’s nothing I can do for Mr. Spector,” he said. “I can no longer effectively represent him.”
Referring to the fact that he had not spoken in the courtroom since shortly after the trial began, he thanked the judge and said, “Hopefully, next time you see me you’re going to see me work rather than sit.”
Spector confirmed in court that he agreed with the decision and that attorney Roger Rosen, who has been at the helm of the defense effort, would take over as lead counsel.
The judge smiled but made no comment as Cutler turned, picked up his briefcase and left the courtroom. The proceeding was done outside the jury’s presence and they were not told about the development.
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