Security Guard Testifies in Phil Spector Trial

A retired police officer who sometimes works for Joan Rivers as a security guard told jurors in Phil Spector's murder trial that he ejected the music producer from two Christmas parties for brandishing a gun and making violent and threatening statements about women. Vincent Tannazzo said Spector turned toward one woman and said, "I ought to put a bullet in her head right now."

Tannazzo took the stand in the first day of testimony at Spector's second trial for the murder of actress Lana Clarkson.

Tannazzo told jurors that he had to escort Spector from two of Joan Rivers' Christmas parties a year apart. He said Spector was ranting and out of control, shouting an obscenity to describe women over and over.

Also Monday, Joan Rivers' manager, Dorothy Melvin, testified about an incident in which Spector threatened her with a gun, hitting her in the face with a gun and keeping her purse from her. She had to call police to get her purse back, she said.

Repeat Testimony Against Spector

Both Tannazzo and Melvin offered the same testimony in Spector's first trial a year ago.

Melvin is one of five women scheduled to testify about being threatened by Spector, who is accused of shooting Lana Clarkson in the mouth with a pistol in the foyer of his Pasadena mansion in February 2003.

His first trial ended with the jury deadlocked 10-2 in favor of guilt.

See Also:
Retired NYPD Officer Testifies at Spector Retrial

Background:
The Murder of Lana Clarkson
The Phil Spector Case

Forum:
Discuss The Phil Spector Case

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^{Photo: Jamie Rector / Getty Images}