Music producer Phil Spector's murder trial delayed a third time

The long delayed murder trial of music producer Phil Spector was postponed a third time, with a judge pushing it back to next March.

Photo: Music producer Phil Spector's murder trial delayed a third time

Music producer Phil Spector's murder trial delayed a third time

Spector's trial in the 2003 murder of actress Lana Clarkson had been set for Jan. 16, but the defense requested another delay on Tuesday as it awaits the completion of scientific and forensic tests.

Superior Court Judge Larry P. Fidler granted the request and set a new date of March 5, 2007.

The trial was initially set to begin April 24 this year, but it was postponed to Sept. 11 because prosecutors and one of Spector's attorneys had scheduling conflicts. Then it was postponed a second time when Fidler told attorneys he had schedule two trials for the same time in September and had decided to try the other case first.

Known for creating rock music's "wall of sound," Spector, 66, is accused of killing Clarkson in his mansion on Feb. 3, 2003.

Clarkson, 40, was best known as the star of Roger Corman's cult film "Barbarian Queen." She was working as a hostess at the House of Blues on Sunset Strip and went home with Spector the night she was killed, police said.

Spector is free on $1 million (Ђ800,000) bail. He faces life in prison if convicted.

While awaiting trial, Spector has been embroiled in another court battle. He sued his former personal assistant alleging she siphoned hundreds of thousands of dollars from his accounts, reports AP.

The assistant recently countersued him for more than $5 million (Ђ4 million) on claims including sexual harassment.

Spector, a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, was the producer of such classic hits as "Be My Baby," "Da Doo Ron Ron" and "You've Lost that Lovin' Feeling."