Phil Spector has professed his innocence

Music producer Phil Spector has spoken about the death of an actress who was found dead in his home, saying she killed herself.

Mr Spector insists 40-year-old B-movie actress Lana Clarkson died in a bizarre act of suicide, a conclusion police have ruled out.

Spector was arrested following the incident at his Los Angeles mansion in February but was released without charge on $1m bail.

"I have no idea why. I never knew her, never even saw her before that night," he told the US edition of Esquire magazine.

He said the allegations being made against him were a "frame up".

Lana Clarkson was found shot in the face

He added: "I didn't do anything wrong ... if they had a case, I'd be sitting in jail right now."

But the Los Angeles County Sheriff's department had already ruled out suicide, believing Ms Clarkson's death to be a criminal act.

'No case'

Mr Spector met Ms Clarkson at the House of Blues club, where she worked as a hostess, before taking her to his home in the Los Angeles district of Alhambra.

"I don't know where or how she got the gun ... There's no case. She killed herself."

Mr Spector's solicitor has previously said he believes his client will be cleared following an investigation.

Police have said the investigation could continue for months as complex forensic tests are carried out.

Mr Spector became a legendary name in pop music for his work with acts such as John Lennon, Tina Turner, the Ramones and Leonard Cohen.

He is known for the so-called Wall of Sound production technique, a process he perfected during the 1960s with artists such as the Ronettes and Shirelles.