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Spector Trial Turns Magnifying Glass on DNA

Tue., Jun. 12, 2007 10:06 PM PDT by Natalie Finn

DNA doesn't lie, but where it's found can lead to a whole new slew of questions.

Los Angeles Sheriff's Department criminalist Steve Renteria, who testified yesterday during Phil Spector's murder trial that a lack of blood spatter found near Lana Clarkson's body could indicate that someone was standing in front of her when she was shot, said Tuesday that a speck of DNA consistent with Spector was detected on Clarkson's left breast.

Traces consistent with Clarkson's DNA were also found on Spector's genitals, Renteria testified, kicking off another day of largely scientific testimony, through which the L.A. District Attorney's Office is trying to prove that the famed music producer shot Clarkson in the hallway of his Alhambra mansion more than four years ago.

The defense is arguing, meanwhile, that Clarkson shot herself in an "accidental suicide."

Renteria said that he would need to look at 14.8 million other Caucasian DNA samples before he could find one that matched the sample found on Clarkson, but added that he'd "only" have to look at 98,000 other Caucasians to possibly match the sample found on Spector.

"That's a very, very, very low number in your field, is that correct?" Deputy D.A. Alan Jackson asked Renteria.

"Correct," the forensic scientist, who founded the sheriff's DNA program in 1994, responded.

The samples were both culled from traces of what almost certainly was saliva, according to Renteria, and no evidence of semen was found during a sexual assault test performed on both Clarkson's body and on Spector.

Clarkson was found the morning of Feb. 3, 2003, perched in a chair Spector's hallway; she was wearing a black slip dress and a coat, her underwear was on normally and photographs have shown that her purse was slung over her shoulder—a condition which played a key part in medical examiner Louis Pena's conclusion that Clarkson hadn't committed suicide, accidental or otherwise.

Under cross-examination, however, Renteria conceded that some mistakes had been made during the investigation.

For instance, his own DNA had turned up in one of the samples, Renteria said, calling it "the very first time" that had ever happened in his nine years on the job.

He said it was not a "serious problem," however, and that no other samples were contaminated.

Jackson said that the contaminated sample was not used for evidence.

"There was no contamination of any evidence sample, is that correct?" he asked on redirect.

"Correct," Renteria replied.

The criminalist had also testified yesterday that Spector's DNA was not found on the gun, although it could have been hidden under Clarkson's blood, nor was it found on the bullets.

Only Clarkson's and an unidentified male's DNA were found on the Colt Cobra .38-caliber revolver and on the bullet tips found in the gun. The firearm wasn't registered to Spector, but the jury has been shown a matching holster that was found, empty, in a bureau drawer near Clarkson's body.

Jackson asked whether DNA from blood left a stronger impression than "touch DNA," or the kind Spector would have left on the weapon if he had been the one firing it that night.

The blood DNA could hide "touch DNA," Renteria agreed.

He also testified that none of Spector's DNA was found under Clarkson's fingernails, which could cast doubt on the prosecution's argument that a struggle occurred that night.