Spector D.A. seeks sanctions against Lee

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LOS ANGELES, June 9 (UPI) -- Prosecutors in the Los Angeles murder trial of Phil Spector want a hearing on allegations that forensic scientist Henry Lee violated a court gag order.

Lee, who is scheduled to be a defense witness in the record producer's trial, has chided the prosecution in interviews he gave to Chinese-language news organizations.

The judge in the high-profile case ordered in April that witnesses be instructed not to discuss the case with the media, and prosecutors are seeking a hearing and "appropriate remedy" for what they call ongoing violations of that order, the Los Angeles Times said Saturday.

Lee and the prosecutors have been at odds over witness reports that Lee pocketed a piece of evidence at the murder scene that is believed to be a fragment of victim Lana Clarkson's acrylic fingernail. The Times said the chip was likely blown off by the gunshot that killed her, which would contradict the defense contention that Clarkson shot her self.