By Anthony Bruno
June 29, 2007
"This Is a Homicide"
The prosecution continued to present their case against Phil Spector, calling Los Angeles County deputy coroner, Dr. Louis Pena, to the stand, who said unequivocally, "This is a homicide."
Pena testified as to the condition of Lana Clarkson's body when he examined it. He said that he found bruising on Clarkson's tongue, which indicated that the gun had been put into her mouth forcibly. Her top front teeth were shattered, and fragments were found outside her mouth. Pena testified that this was caused by the recoil of the revolver. The deputy coroner stated that in all likelihood she died immediately after the bullet traveled through her head and severed her spine. It happened so fast, she did not have a chance to exhale or cough up blood. At most, she might have exhaled "one shallow breath," Pena said. Bruises found on her wrists were consistent with a struggle in which she tried to fight off an attacker who had grabbed her wrists and tried to subdue her.
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| Dr. Louis Pena |
When asked if Lana Clarkson's death could have conceivably been a suicide, Pena rejected that possibility, saying that he found no indication that she had been depressed or suffering from any other psychiatric problem. According to her medical records, which Pena had reviewed, she had been taking two prescription medications written by a neurologist for persistent headaches. Pena testified that he had studied her records and found no evidence of suicide attempts in her past. By all indications she had been a generally hopeful person, and the fact that she had gone to Spector's home that evening indicated her optimism, according to Pena. "My thinking is if she thought it would boost her career, it shows hope."
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| Lana Clarkson |
Addressing the defense's contention that Clarkson had died by her own hand, Pena testified that when women commit suicide with firearms, they rarely shot themselves in the face or head. He also found it hard to believe that Clarkson would have killed herself in the home of someone she had just met. "I've never seen a case reported" where a person enters the home of a stranger "and magically comes up with a gun and shoots herself."
"How would she have known where the gun is?" Pena said. He found no evidence of a search for a weapon at the crime scene.
Next page
Phil Spector: The "Mad Genius" of Rock'N'Roll
CL Message Board: Phil Spector & the Murder of Lana Clarkson
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