Spector Trial Date Set

Phil Spector has a date with destiny. Again.

On Friday, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Larry Fidler set an Apr. 24 start date for the record producer's trial on charges of murdering B-movie actress Lana Clarkson at his Alhambra home in Feb. 2003.

Spector's trial has been postponed repeatedly, due to a series of motions filed by attorneys on both sides.

In September, a tentative start date for the trial was set in January, but as Spector's attorney, Bruce Cutler, is involved in another case in New York in February, Fidler elected to begin the murder proceedings at a later date to avoid scheduling conflicts.

Also in court Friday, Fidler set a Dec. 14 hearing on whether prosecutors on the trial should get a copy of a deposition Spector gave in a civil lawsuit against his former attorney, Robert Shapiro.

Spector is suing Shapiro, who was his first lawyer in the criminal case, for the return of the unused potion of the million-dollar retaining fee he paid the attorney.

His current legal team has argued that Spector intended the deposition to be confidential and has urged Fidler to toss out the prosecution's request for a transcript and videotape of Spector's statements.

However, Deputy District Attorney Douglas Sortino alleged that Spector and his defense team made the confidentiality argument only after they knew that prosecutors would seek out the deposition.

"Now he's trying to close the barn door after the horse is out," Sortino said in court.

Sortino claimed the deposition information could be important in discrediting Spector's potential trial testimony and could aid the prosecution in tracking down more witnesses and additional evidence in the case.

Both sides agreed to let Fidler review the deposition before the Dec. 14 hearing.

Spector, who is known for his "Wall of Sound" recording technique employed on hits like "Be My Baby" from 1960s act the Ronettes, remains free on $1 million bail. He has maintained he had nothing to do with Clarkson's death and has suggested she "kissed the gun," killing herself as he watched.