Spector retrial to start in September

LOS ANGELES, May 23 (UPI) -- Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Larry Paul Fidler has set a September start date for famed music producer Phil Spector's murder trial.

Spector is accused of killing struggling actress Lana Clarkson at his Alhambra, Calif., mansion in February 2003.

Spector's first trial ended in September with the jury deadlocked and a mistrial was declared.

Since then, most of Spector's defense team has moved to other cases and his request for time to hire new lawyers has been granted.

E! Online said Fidler, the judge, who presided over Spector's first trial, has scheduled the retrial to start Sept. 29.

The California Supreme Court is expected to rule next month on the defense's motion to have Fidler removed from the case, E! Online said.