An American Tragedy

LOS ANGELES - Rock music producer Phil Spector was convicted Monday of second-degree murder in the shooting death of a film actress at his mansion six years ago, a verdict that will send him to prison for at least 18 years barring a successful appeal. (AP)

This is the greatest miscarriage of justice in my lifetime, at least. Look at him. Look at Phil Spector. (That's him in the photo). Does he really look like he could hurt anyone? Look at him.

Alright, fine. So, let's say he did kill her. Who was she? What's her name? Exactly. Now, who did OJ Simpson Kill? You knew it: Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman. So, OJ gets to kill two people, and Spector doesn't even get one? America needs to support its artists. Genius should not be restrained by the whims of current social mores.

OJ sneaked up on his wife and her buddy Ron. He ambushed them in some fancy Los Angeles alleyway. That was sneaky. This woman that Spector shot, allegedly, she voluntarily went home with him, after voluntarily hanging out with him somewhere else. So, saying he did shoot her in the mouth, which is uncertain, well.. She had been hanging out with him all night. So come on.

As if the guilty verdict isn't bad enough, they denied bail, and he will be in jail now pending his appeal. Why not house arrest with access to a limited number of night clubs, seeing as he will surely be acquitted on appeal? My head hangs low tonight. Once again, the LA legal system has shamed us.

He Shot Me, And It Felt Like A Kiss

Phil Spector should be pardoned. We are talking about Phil Spector. Do you have his Christmas Album? What would that kitchen scene in Goodfellas have been like with Muskrat Love playing instead? So, he shot some bitch in the head. Why was he even charged? Are these people out of their minds? But now that it's too late, a pardon should be granted. It wouldn't be without precedent; Leadbelly was pardoned based on his talent and style. And he had merely attempted homicide.

The powers that be are ignoring this whole travesty out of embarrassment. There will be another trial. I propose that the defense should come in with a boombox, or better yet insist on a high tech built-in courtroom stereo system and broadcast Be My Baby to the court. That would be the opening argument. Then I imagine the prosecution will come out and say 'well he shot her in the head, he told his driver he killed her, he has pulled guns on a bunch of women', etc. Maybe they get Johnny Ramone up there too. Blah blah blah. Then, one witness for the defense: Brian Wilson, talking about Be My Baby a little. Then they play it again for the closing argument. End of the show. Jury doesn't even have to leave their box. It could be wrapped up in a day or two, as long as Brian is lucid.

Can a jury suggest that upon acquittal he be allowed to shoot up to a dozen more inconsequential people without penalty?