Phil Spector...whodunit

Every amateur detective into murder mysteries has been paying attention to the Phil Spector case ongoing in Los Angeles...especially, now that the trial is winding down.

There are enough twists and turns to pique the curiosity of any sleuth.

As the story goes...one dark night Lana Clarkson, an aspiring actress (with some legitimate film credits) accompanied famed music producer, Phil Spector - who created the "Wall of Sound" - to his palatial Alhambra manse - and ended up dead.

The issues swirl around Ms. Clarkson's frame of mind, altered evidence, and the questionable conduct of a criminologist.

Mr. Spector alleges that the statuesque blond nabbed one of his pistols - for some inexplicable reason - and turned it on herself, committing suicide. End of story.

However, over the past few weeks, witnesses for the prosecution have sought to dispute these claims.

One expert argued that a woman would never commit suicide by shooting herself in the face.

A man may point a gun point blank at his head and pull the trigger, but they assert that a female would not disfigure herself in this way. A woman would be more inclined to put on her best dress, brush her hair, and lay down on the sofa or bed until the drugs and alcohol kicked in.

Then, there's the issue of her state-of-mind. Friends insist that she was in a positive upbeat mood, excited about new prospects - not a likely candidate for suicide.

Of course, that purse is pretty incriminating, too.

A criminologist, Dr. Lynne Herold, noted that it was sitting on her shoulder positioned backward - an awkward way for a woman to carry her bag. Had it been adjusted by someone?

Blood tests established there were mystifying smears of blood, too.

One stain on the foyer chair where Clarkson's body was found slumped suggested her head had been turned around. By who? Why?

One piece of evidence - or lack thereof - has caused quite an uproar.

One witness claimed to have witnessed Dr. Lee - famed evidence expert (who presided over the O.J. Simpson trial) - pick up and pocket a small scrap some believed was a part of a fingernail.

But, the evidence did not end up in the evidence packet submitted to the court.

The attorney who eye-balled the event, now refused to testify (on the grounds of attorney-client privilege) and came close to jail time for contempt of court.

Prosecutors surmise that the nail was blown off her finger when she put her hands to her face to defend against an attacker.

Mr. Spector's defense team has been headed up by attorney Bruce Cutler; the high-profile lawyer from New York who represented John Gotti in three cases in which the alleged mob figure "got off".

Gee, where's Hercule Poirot when you need him?