Spector chauffeur feared being shot himself

updated 12:40 p.m. ET May 17, 2007

LOS ANGELES - Phil Spector’s chauffeur testified Wednesday that he fled after seeing his boss with a gun and the body of an actress inside the producer’s home — and feared he could have been shot himself.

Adriano De Souza returned to the stand in Spector’s murder trial a day after telling the jury how he heard a “pow” as he waited outside Spector’s castle-like home on Feb. 3, 2003. He said Spector emerged with a gun in hand and said, “I think I killed somebody.”

Prosecutor Alan Jackson showed the jury photographs of Lana Clarkson’s body slumped in a chair in the foyer and close-up of her face with blood around her mouth. The defense claims she shot herself.

De Souza said he saw Clarkson’s body slumped in a chair with her legs near the floor and asked Spector what happened, to which Spector responded with a shrug.

“I didn’t know what to do,” De Souza testified. “I tried to escape from that place. ... I was afraid he could shoot me.”

De Souza said he started to run, then remembered the car and drove outside of the gate. He said he used his cell phone to call Spector’s secretary, where he left a message, then called 911.

Video Tape shows Spector ranting against witnesses May 17: Phil Spector is shown ranting against prosecution witnesses on a videotape at his murder trial. KNBC's Doug Kriegel has the story. NBC News Channel

“I think my boss killed somebody,” he told one operator in a tape of the call played in court.

Asked why he thought that, he responded, “Because he has a lady on the floor and he has a gun in his hand.”

De Souza said he called the secretary first to get Spector’s exact street address, and he stopped outside the estate’s gate because the address was on a sign there.

De Souza, an immigrant from Brazil whose native language is Portuguese, speaks in accented English and the defense has questioned how well he understood Spector. Initial cross-examination by the defense focused on his English education and immigration status.

De Souza told the prosecutor he clearly understood Spector.

On Tuesday, De Souza described driving Spector and Clarkson from the House of Blues to the producer’s house. Clarkson was reluctant, but agreed to join Spector for one drink, De Souza said.

Lee says he didn't collect fingernail
In a separate hearing outside the jury’s presence, forensic expert Henry Lee denied a claim that he collected a piece of Clarkson’s acrylic fingernail when Spector’s first defense team inspected the scene the day after her death.

In an earlier hearing, a retired sheriff’s investigator who worked for Spector’s initial attorney told the court he saw Lee hold a piece of fingernail in a handkerchief, and an attorney said she saw Lee put a piece of white material in a test tube. The prosecution claims the defense has withheld the evidence.

“I feel pretty upset. I think my reputation is severely damaged,” Lee said.

Lee said he doesn’t know the investigator and did not collect a fingernail. He said he thinks the attorney “made an honest mistake.” He said he collected only small blood stains and two pieces of thread.

Spector rose to fame in the 1960s and ’70s, changing rock music with what became known as the “Wall of Sound” recording technique. Clarkson was best known for a role in the 1985 film “Barbarian Queen.”

Spector rose to fame in the 1960s and ’70s, changing rock music with what became known as the “Wall of Sound” recording technique. Clarkson was best known for a role in the 1985 film “Barbarian Queen.”

MORE FROM CELEBRITIES

Celebrities Section Front

Polanski could be out of jail in coming days Despite criticism, Lohan to stay on at Ungaro Filmmaker Perry gives $1 million to NAACP Police chief guilty in Parker-Broderick case Chef Paula Deen hit in face by charity ham Michael Jackson glove sells for $350,000 Michael Jackson’s doctor returns to work Colbert calls bobsled run ‘the ride of my life’ Miley Cyrus tour bus overturns, killing driver Britney’s paparazzo ex gets 45 days in jail Celebrities Section Front   Add Celebrities headlines to your news reader: