Spector on Murder Charge

Phil Spector, the record producer responsible for some of the greatest hits of the sixties and seventies, has been charged with the murder of an actress who died at his home last February.

The charge comes nearly nine months after he was first arrested at his Alhambra home in the suburbs of Los Angeles.

Spector, aged 63, was charged yesterday with murdering Lana Clarkson, aged 40, an actress and model who had been working at the House of Blues music club in Hollywood on the night of her death.

Spector, who was known as the creator of the lush "Wall of Sound" recording tech nique, was scheduled to make his first court appearance later yesterday. Prosecutors said he would remain free on bail.

Clarkson, who had been trying to relaunch her career at the time of her death and who had appeared in small parts in a number of films, was found dead in the hall of Spector's mansion.

Police were called after the sound of gunfire was heard. Spector was subdued by police at the time.

After being released on $1m bail, Spector denied that he had killed the actress. He hinted that she had killed herself with a gun at the mansion.

The charge comes after a lengthy police investigation.

Spector, the producer of hits such as Walking in the Rain and You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin', remains on bail.

His trial will not take place until next year.