Jury selection for the murder trial of legendary music producer Phil Spector is set to begin in Los Angeles on March 19. Spector was arrested more than four years ago for the suspected murder of actress Lana Clarkson in his suburban Los Angeles mansion on February 3, 2003.
Superior Court Judge Larry Paul Fidler said Tuesday that the testimony is not likely to begin until three or four weeks after the jury selection starts.
The case has faced a number of postponements. An April trial date was canceled because the judge assigned to the case had a conflict in scheduling, and Spector has changed lawyers a number of times.
"We have to get this to trial," Fidler said, adding that he plans to call up to 300 prospective jurors to determine who could participate a trial that could go on as long as three months.
Clarkson was 40 at the time of her death. She starred in several B-movies, most memorably in Roger Corman's 1985 film "Barbarian Queen."
Spector, 67, created the "wall of sound" recording technique in the 1960s that revolutionized pop music. He's famous for his work with girl-groups like the Ronettes, as will as for producing the music of rock 'n' roll icons such as Elvis Presley, Gene Pitney, Ike and Tina Turner, the Ramones and the Beatles.
Spector previously claimed that Clarkson committed suicide in front of him. He has pleaded not guilty to murder and is currently free on $1 million bail. He faces life in prison if convicted.
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