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Portrait of Phil Spector

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Born in United States · Nationality American — Culture / media / celebrities / music production / criminal justice

Phil Spector

Music

Documented profile covering 16 controversies, including “2009–2011: convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 19 years to life; conviction upheld on appeal” and “2007: first Clarkson trial ends with hung jury and mistrial”.

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Profile No. 2547 · Updated on 12 October 2026

Portrait of Phil Spector

Photo: Wikimedia Commons
16Documented controversies+ 1 background event
11Sources
1 followed by a conviction

§ Legal statuses reflect the documented sources as of the date shown; they replace neither court decisions nor the presumption of innocence. Counts are not a rating. Methodology

I. Documented controversies

Case · 3 documented stages

2009–2011: convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 19 years to life; conviction upheld on appeal

Conviction
01

13 April 2009–2 May 2011

2009–2011: convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 19 years to life; conviction upheld on appeal

Conviction

At the second trial, Spector was found guilty of Lana Clarkson's second-degree murder involving use of a firearm and sentenced to 19 years to life. The California Court of Appeal upheld the judgment in 2011.

State of the evidence
Established by a court
Attribution
Accused

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    The GuardianMusic producer Phil Spector convicted of murderPressHigh reliability
  2. [2]
    California Court of Appeal via FindLawPeople v. Spector (2011)Court decisionVery high reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

Add to this entry

02

September 2007

2007: first Clarkson trial ends with hung jury and mistrial

Formally charged

Spector's first trial over Lana Clarkson's death ended without a verdict because the jury could not reach unanimity.

Attribution
Accused

Sources · 1

  1. [1]
    California Court of Appeal via FindLawPeople v. Spector (2011)Court decisionVery high reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

Add to this entry

03

3 February–November 2003

2003: Lana Clarkson found shot dead at Spector's home; arrest and murder charge

Conviction

Lana Clarkson was found dead from a gunshot wound to her mouth at Spector's home. He was arrested the same day, released on $1 million bail and then formally charged with murder.

Attribution
Accused

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    Los Angeles TimesPhil Spector Arrested in Woman's KillingPressHigh reliability
  2. [2]
    California Court of Appeal via FindLawPeople v. Spector (2011)Court decisionVery high reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

Add to this entry

04

1963–17 October 2002

1963–2002: Ronettes contract, near-total absence of royalties and decades of litigation

Civil / administrative proceedings

The Ronettes signed with Phil Spector's company Philles Records in 1963. The New York Court of Appeals noted that, apart from a collective advance of approximately $15,000, the group had received no royalty payments from Philles, before lengthy proceedings concerning exploitation of the recordings and ancillary rights.

State of the evidence
Documented
Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    New York Court of Appeals via JustiaGreenfield v. Philles Records, Inc.Court decisionVery high reliability
  2. [2]
    Los Angeles TimesRonettes Win Court Case Against SpectorPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

Add to this entry

05

1998–2002

1998–2002: Ronettes royalties litigation — partial victory subsequently limited on final appeal

Civil / administrative proceedings

The Ronettes sought several million dollars in royalties. An intermediate ruling awarded them approximately $3 million, before the New York Court of Appeals recognised Spector/Philles' substantial exploitation rights and remitted the case for recalculation of the amounts due.

State of the evidence
Documented
Attribution
Accused

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    Los Angeles TimesRonettes Win Court Case Against SpectorPressHigh reliability
  2. [2]
    New York Court of Appeals via JustiaGreenfield v. Philles Records, Inc.Court decisionVery high reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

Add to this entry

06

1968–1974, témoignages publics en 1998

1968–1974: Ronnie Spector describes coercive marriage and threats; Phil Spector denies allegations under oath

Allegations

Ronnie Spector testified that she had been kept as a 'prisoner' at their estate, with barbed wire, control over her movements and threats, and that she had faced pressure in divorce and child custody proceedings.

Attribution
Personally implicated

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    UPIRonnie Spector takes the witness standPressHigh reliability
  2. [2]
    UPIPhil Spector: Ronnie was no prisonerPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

Add to this entry

07

January 1995

1995: Stephanie Jennings calls 911 after allegedly being detained in hotel room with gun

No legal proceedings

Jennings stated that Spector pushed or slapped her, blocked her hotel room door and brandished a weapon when she wanted to leave. She managed to call 911 and police officers were dispatched.

Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 1

  1. [1]
    California Court of Appeal via FindLawPeople v. Spector (2011)Court decisionVery high reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

Add to this entry

08

fin 1992 ou début 1993

1992–1993: Melissa Grosvenor testifies she was detained under threat of handgun

No legal proceedings

Grosvenor stated that when she wanted to leave Spector's house, he returned with a handgun, threatened to kill her if she left and forced her to remain until morning.

Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 1

  1. [1]
    California Court of Appeal via FindLawPeople v. Spector (2011)Court decisionVery high reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

Add to this entry

09

July 1993

1993: Dorothy Melvin reports blows with gun, threats and 911 call

No legal proceedings

Melvin testified that Spector had struck her on the head with a revolver, threatened her and then run towards her car with a shotgun. She called 911 after leaving.

Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 1

  1. [1]
    California Court of Appeal via FindLawPeople v. Spector (2011)Court decisionVery high reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

Add to this entry

10

March 1989

1989: Dianne Ogden testifies to rifle threat and sexual coercion at his home

No legal proceedings

Ogden testified that Spector prevented her from leaving, pointed several weapons, threatened to kill her and then forced her to partially undress before attempting sexual intercourse.

Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 1

  1. [1]
    California Court of Appeal via FindLawPeople v. Spector (2011)Court decisionVery high reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

Add to this entry

11

quelques mois après March 1989

1989: Dianne Ogden describes second incident in which Spector allegedly struck car window with Uzi-type weapon

No legal proceedings

Ogden described another confrontation in which Spector allegedly threatened her with an Uzi-type weapon as she tried to leave, then struck her car window with it.

Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 1

  1. [1]
    California Court of Appeal via FindLawPeople v. Spector (2011)Court decisionVery high reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

Add to this entry

12

1989

1989: Spector files $30 million defamation lawsuit against biographer

Civil / administrative proceedings

Spector brought a $30 million defamation lawsuit against author Mark Ribowsky concerning the biography 'He's a Rebel', as part of his response to accounts of his 'wild years'.

State of the evidence
Documented
Attribution
Protagonist is the complainant

Sources · 1

  1. [1]
    Los Angeles TimesTearing Down the Wall of SilencePressHigh reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

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13

1979–1980

1980: Ramones members accuse Spector of brandishing gun during 'End of the Century' sessions

No legal proceedings

Members of the Ramones described Spector brandishing a gun during sessions for 'End of the Century', an account long associated with the album's difficult production.

State of the evidence
Documented
Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 1

  1. [1]
    Los Angeles TimesPhil Spector Arrested in Woman's KillingPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

Add to this entry

14

1977

1977: Leonard Cohen recounts having gun pointed at him during 'Death of a Ladies' Man' sessions

No legal proceedings

Leonard Cohen recounted that Spector's behaviour during their collaboration involved firearms and that a pistol had been pointed at him, illustrating the extreme tension of the sessions.

State of the evidence
Documented
Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 1

  1. [1]
    The GuardianPhil Spector: pop genius with a dark sidePressHigh reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

Add to this entry

15

1975

1975: Devra Robitaille testifies she was confined at his home and threatened with rifle

No legal proceedings

Robitaille stated that after a party, when she wanted to leave, Spector locked the door, placed a rifle barrel against her temple and threatened to blow her head off.

Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    California Court of Appeal via FindLawPeople v. Spector (2011)Court decisionVery high reliability
  2. [2]
    Los Angeles Times5th woman says Spector threatened her with gunPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

Add to this entry

16

vers 1973

1970s: gunshot during John Lennon session — episode contributing to reputation involving firearms

No legal proceedings

Widely repeated studio accounts describe Spector firing a gun during a session with John Lennon, an episode that came to symbolise his behaviour involving firearms and alcohol in the studio.

Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 1

  1. [1]
    Los Angeles TimesSpector's past to figure in trialPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

Add to this entry

II. Documented background

Documented biographical or institutional milestones (elections, appointments, foundings, acquisitions…). These are not controversies and are not counted as such.

  1. 1986

    1986: second firearm threat against Devra Robitaille according to trial testimony

    After returning to work with Spector, Robitaille stated that he had again prevented her from leaving a party and pointed a rifle at her face while making death threats.

    Sources · 1
    1. California Court of Appeal via FindLaw — People v. Spector (2011)

III. Constellation of documented links

  • Linked profile (portrait or initials) — click to open it
  • Line width: number of documented references
  • Hover over or tap a line: controversies and sources

Two profiles are linked when a documented controversy of one names the other. The link points to that controversy and its sources; it does not indicate a personal relationship.

List of documented links (1)
  1. John Lennon1 documented reference

IV. Has something changed?

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