/ Source: The Associated Press
A California court panel has decided that the retrial of Phil Spector on a murder charge can proceed.
A state appeals court on Friday rejected a defense request to halt the trial.
The music producer's attorneys had requested a stay of the trial so they could appeal on double jeopardy grounds. They also wanted assurance that prosecutors would not ask jurors to convict Spector of lesser offenses. The court denied both requests.
Spector's first trial resulted in a jury deadlock on second-degree murder. Prosecutors have not indicated whether they will seek a conviction on lesser offenses.
The 68-year-old is charged with killing actress Lana Clarkson at his home in 2003. His retrial is set for October.