Playwright David Mamet has been on a press tour lately to discuss his recent conversion to Palin-loving
conservatism. Clearly in a provocative mood, he also went to bat for bewigged murderer Phil Spector:

“I don't think he's guilty. I definitely think there is reasonable doubt,” Mamet says… “They should never have sent him away. Whether he did it or not, we'll never know but if he'd just been a regular citizen, they never would have indicted him.”

Really? Is L.A. known for its unduly harsh treatment of celebrity killers? Hadn't heard that.

Mamet's entitled to his, let's say, idiosyncratic views. They wouldn't even be all that noteworthy were he not writing and directing a movie about the Spector case for HBO.

Al Pacino will play Spector, for whom Mamet has some sympathy:

He simply wanted to be by himself. Did that make him a monster?

What made him a monster was pulling guns on women and shooting Lana Clarkson in the face. And if he wanted to be by himself, then why did he tell his girlfriends “If you try to leave I'm going to kill you”? That sounds like a guy who really didn't want to be alone.

What's up with Mamet? Such a genius. So out to lunch on this.

Alan Jackson, the prosecutor in the Spector case, issued the following statement in response to Mamet's remarks:

When presented with all the facts, an objective and

unbiased jury found Mr. Spector guilty of Lana Clarkson's murder.

Subsequently, a panel of appellate justices determined that Mr.

Spector's conviction was just and proper, citing “overwhelming evidence” of his guilt. I respect the jury's verdict and the process by which

that verdict was arrived. The true injustice was suffered by Lana

Clarkson, and continues to be suffered by her family and those who love

and miss her.

Jackson is running for D.A., and is planning to use the Spector trial to burnish his crime-fighting image. He will also be a character in Mamet's movie, which should be interesting.

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