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LOS ANGELES - A MySpace posting declaring that the judge in the Phil Spector murder trial "should die" was being investigated by Los Angeles police as jurors deliberated for an 11th day in the sensational case.
The posting appeared over the weekend on a MySpace page possibly belonging to Spector's wife, Rachelle, and read: "I love Phil Spector --!!! The Evil Judge Should Die!!!! Xoxo Chelle," Los Angeles Superior Court spokesman Allan Parachini said.
Parachini said the MySpace page, which features a picture of Rachelle Spector wearing a "Team Spector" T-shirt, was referred to a special sheriff's department unit which protects and judges and investigates such threats.
The posting has since been removed.
"There are more threats on judges that occur than the public knows, I suspect," Parachini said. "When the posting on MySpace became known it clearly met the standard for referral to the sheriff's department."
The pioneering record producer is accused of shooting 40-year-old actress Lana Clarkson to death at his Los Angeles area home on February 3, 2003. Jurors were deliberating for an 11th day on a second-degree murder charge.
On the first day of deliberations, Judge Larry Paul Fidler engaged in a testy exchange with Spector's wife over a television interview she granted about the case without his permission.
Parachini said it was not clear if the MySpace page belonged to Rachelle or someone else. Rachelle Short, 27, married Spector a year ago, before his trial started. Attorneys for the 67-year-old rock producer have said she had nothing to do with the posting.
"I'm not going to assume that there is any relationship to the defendant, his wife or his friends. I don't know that," Parachini said.
Investigations into threats against judges can lead to criminal charges.
If found guilty, Spector, best known for his "Wall of Sound" recording technique and work with the Beatles, The Ronettes, Tina Turner and Cher, faces 15 years to life in prison.
- REUTERS
