Woman shot dead at Spector home was 'topless film actress'

SPECULATION was growing today that the woman shot dead at the home of legendary rock producer Phil Spector was a Los Angeles glamour actress who has appeared topless on screen.

As Spector, 62, was released after posting pounds 660,000 bail on a murder charge, detectives named the woman found dead at his LA mansion as Lana Clarkson, a 41-year-old local resident.

They refused to say whether she was the LA-based actress of the same name who has done several topless roles and starred in TV shows such as The A-Team and Knight Rider, as well as playing minor parts in mainstream films such as Scarface and Blind Date.

"The body of the woman found fatally shot earlier today has been identified as Lana Clarkson. I cannot confirm at this stage if she is an actress or what her relationship to Mr Spector was," said Deputy Rich Pena of the LA sheriff 's headquarters.

Spector, who has fought schizophrenia and drug problems for years, was held yesterday after Ms Clarkson's body was found in the foyer of his 10-bedroom replica castle home in the Los Angeles suburb of Alhambra. Police had been called after neighbours heard the sound of shots. Spector is well-known for carrying guns. The father of five - who worked with acts including the Beatles, Ike and Tina Turner and the Righteous Brothers - was held in police custody while the pounds 600,000 bail application was arranged.

He is due to appear before a judge later this week. The charge of first-degree murder carries the penalty of death by lethal injection.

Prosecutors are still considering whether they will ask for it in Spector's case - although it is thought that given his past history of mental instability, he could well plead insanity.

In a newspaper interview last weekend - his first in 25 years - he admitted to being "relatively insane" but claimed to have become a "completely different person" within recent months. He also spoke of making a recording comeback after 23 years' absence, possibly featuring work with leading British band Coldplay.

Spector was famous for creating the " wall of sound" recording effect which changed the way pop records were produced and brought Spector fame, with hits like Da Doo Ron Ron by the Ronettes and Then He Kissed Me by the Crystals. He also worked on the last Beatles album, Let It Be.

He was a millionaire by 21, but his private life suffered in later life.

Spector surrounded his house with barbed wire and guard dogs and became prone to bouts of temper, according to his former wife Ronnie Bennett of the Ronettes. He lived alone and did not have a girlfriend.

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