Every amateur detective into murder mysteries will be paying keen attention to the Phil Spector case underway in Los Angeles - again!
The first effort to establish guilt failed miserably.
Not to be undaunted, the City Attorney has chosen to forge ahead fresh with a new trial.
There are enough twists and turns to pique the curiosity of any sleuth.
As the story goes...
One dark night Lana Clarkson, an aspiring actress (with some legitimate film credits) accompanied the famed music producer, Phil Spector - who created the "Wall of Sound" - to his palatial Alhambra manse - and summarily - ended up dead.
The issues swirled around Ms. Clarkson's frame of mind, altered evidence, and the questionable conduct of a criminologist.
Mr. Spector alleged that the statuesque blond nabbed one of his pistols - for some inexplicable reason - then turned it on herself.
"It was a suicide."
End of story.
However, witnesses for the prosecution appeared in court to vigorously dispute the claims.
One expert argued that a woman would never commit suicide by shooting herself in the face.
A man may point a gun point blank at his head and pull the trigger, but - a female would not disfigure herself in this way - they asserted.
A woman would be more inclined to put on her best dress, brush her hair, and lay down on the sofa or bed until drugs and alcohol kicked in.
Then, there was the issue of her state-of-mind.
Friends insisted that she was in a positive upbeat mood, excited about new prospects in her life, and not a likely candidate for suicide.
Of course, that purse was pretty incriminating, too.
A criminologist - Dr. Lynne Herold - noted that it was sitting on her shoulder positioned backward.
For sure, an awkward way for a woman to carry her bag.
Had it been adjusted by someone?
Blood tests established there were mystifying smears of blood here and there, too.
One stain on the foyer chair where Clarkson's body was found slumped suggested her head had been turned around.
By who? Why?
One piece of evidence - or lack thereof - caused quite an uproar.
One witness claimed to have spied Dr. Lee - famed evidence expert (who presided over the O.J. Simpson trial) - pick up and pocket a small scrap some believed to be a part of a fingernail.
But, the evidence did not end up in the evidence packet submitted to the court.
The attorney who eye-balled the event - refused to testify on the grounds of attorney-client privilege - and came close to jail time for contempt of court.
Prosecutors surmised that the nail was blown off her finger when she put her hands to her face to defend against an attacker.
Mr. Spector's previous defense team was headed up by attorney Bruce Cutler; the high-profile lawyer from New York who represented John Gotti in three cases in which the alleged mob figure "got off".
The new trial is now underway in Los Angeles.
In fact, testimony given by one witness on the stand yesterday, did not disappoint aggressive prosecutors out to get their "man".
Dorothy Melvin recalled that one evening in the 90's she was in the presence of Mr. Spector when he was approached by some men who excitedly shook his hand - and likewise - gushed that they were excited to meet him.
When the gents strolled away, Spector became furious when he learned they had mistaken him for actor Dudley Moore.
Allegedly, he grabbed a gun, and chased the offending individuals down the street.
Undoubtedly, there will be a number of red herrings tossed in for good measure, over the next few days.
Gee, where's Hercule Poirot when you need him?
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