Transformers director refutes Spector defense

Film director Michael Bay today disputed defense testimony that he had snubbed Lana Clarkson shortly before her death.

Bay said it would have been "a huge event" if he had seen Clarkson so close to her death, and he would have remembered it.

"She was funny, she was saucy, she had no qualms coming right up to someone," Bay testified. He said if he had ignored her, she probably would have slapped him on the face.

Bay, who made this year's "Transformers" film, said he cast Clarkson for a commercial he made for Mercedes Benz. She came in for many auditions, and he saw her at parties "over the years." He said she was one of the few actresses who would send him presents at Christmas.

"You would recognize Lana because she was funny, she was vivacious," Bay said. "She was hard to miss."

Punkin Pie Laughlin, a nightclub promoter who said Clarkson was her closest friend, testified earlier this month that the 40-year-old cult actress was so fragile she broke into tears when Bay did not recognize her at a party days before her death. The defense has tried to show Clarkson, despondent over a flagging acting career, shot herself at Phil Spector's Alhambra mansion.

Bay directed movies "Bad Boys", "Armageddon" and "Pearl Harbor."

Comments

[nan]

Was there a special arrangement/agreement not to televise Mr. Bay's testimony?
Court was in session. Testimony was heard yesterday afternoon.

Is anyone going to explain why no coverage yesterday afternoon?

When is the coverage going to resume?

Thank you for the coverage so far, the commentators are doing a very professional job. As a practicing attorney(loyola alum) and so cal native, I appreciate the enormous-successful-efforts of the judge and your news organization to cover this trial. He is correct, he is "no Ito". Although it is a trial of a celebrity it is not a circus. The court personnel and all trial counsel have been able to represent and advocate for their clients in a non-chaotic atmosphere. A lot of work and effort has gone into and continues to go into making this run as smoothly as possible.

Good job everyone.

[Jack Kerouwack]

Spector had to take the day off for a doctor's appointment? C'mon, the court is only in session a few days a week. I'm sure Phil's doctor coulda "squeezed him in" on one of those frequent days when the court is dark.

[mimi]

You can see Bay's testimony over on CNN, Nan. I agree with you, Judge Fidler has done a great job. Bay's testimony was not remarkable-- he merely said he never dissed Lana, he knew her, he liked her, she was hard to miss. Rebutted Punkin Pie-- but she had already been thoroughly rebutted by Nili Hudson and Punkin's own letter. I wish the defense did not seem to think it was necessary to keep attacking the dead woman and everyone who ever cared for her-- they certainly don't need to go that far to support their theory of impulsive suicide. Maybe they feel they do, because they have so little to go on, but Brunon and Rosen both just sound spiteful and vicious at this point.

[Jeff]

This whole trial is yet another example of the rich being able to afford a bevy of lawyers fully willing to blame the victim (among anything else deemed necessary) to achieve the single objective of a "not guilty" verdict.
Were I a juror I would certainly listen carefully to all of what was presented, but I would not lose sight of the fact that Phil Spector did tell the limo driver he thought he killed someone holding a gun in his hand, and also told the police (with whom he did not cooperate) that he did not mean to shoot Ms. Clarkson.
I certainly hope the defense lawyers extensive (and expensive) display of smoke and mirrors does not inappropriately sway the jury (e.g. by ignoring the facts I have mentioned above, and justifying this by virtue of Phil Spector's medication - I am on medication myself but I could in no way use this to explain behavior such as Phil Spector's).
Of course more could be said, but from what I have seen so far, a verdict of anything but "guilty" would be a sad outrage.

[Susan in Sacramento]

Michael Bay's testimony was televised on Court TV. It was available to watch on the web, too.

KTLA has better camera work and audio, not to mention the commentary from Marta.

I hope KTLA is back up and running today.

Thanks KTLA

Susan

[JW]

Perhaps Michael Bay did diss Lana and is trying to protect himself and a guilty conscience. It is evident that some are so prone to believe him and Nili Hudson...frankly..I thought she was flaky and phony and did not know as much about Lana as she pretended which was evident when the defense questioned her. Michael Bay may just have a guilty conscience and PP may be right! There are two points of direction here....ones who are pro prosecution will believe NH and MB and disbelieve PP. BUT...what about the reluctant witness who spent 2 hours with Lana 5 days prior to her death when she was crying in despair and drunk....to the point he suggested she needed HELP!. He did not want to testify...he is much more credible to me than all of the above and his testimony does go more in line with PP. Surely jurors will see this too.

[jon]

I have an entertainment friend who told me Michael Bay will say almost anything. Quite a character from his demeanor in the hot seat, I was told
???