SCIENTIST HID FINGERNAIL EVIDENCE, RULES SPECTOR JUDGE

Last updated: Thursday, May 24, 2007

SCIENTIST HID FINGERNAIL EVIDENCE, RULES SPECTOR JUDGE

LATEST: The judge at the PHIL SPECTOR murder trial has ruled a forensic scientist removed and hid a potentially vital piece of evidence from prosecutors.

Dr. Henry Lee will not be held in contempt of court and jurors will not be told he isn't a credible witness, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Paul Fidler said.

However, should Spector's defence team call on Lee to testify, the prosecution will be allowed to present all evidence surrounding the missing item, a fingernail, to the jury.

Earlier this month (May07), Lee testified he took nothing from the crime scene.

Prosecutors claim the missing fingernail would show Clarkson resisted having a gun placed in her mouth.

Judge Fidler came to his decision after saying the only witness to take the stand and testify on the nail issue who he found completely credible was Spector's former lawyer Sara Caplan.

Caplan testified she saw Lee pick up a white object and place it in a vial as the defence searched the scene of the crime after police had finished there.

Spector is accused of the fatal shooting of Clarkson at his Alhambra, California home in February 2003. He has pleaded not guilty and claims Clarkson committed suicide.

The trial continues.

Source: WENN

| Thursday, May 24, 2007

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