LOS ANGELES — A judge declared a mistrial Wednesday after jurors in Phil Spector's trial said they could not reach a unanimous decision as to whether the death of an actress was murder or suicide.

The panel deadlocked 10 to 2 in favor of conviction after 12 days of deliberations that jurors described as often heated and ultimately doomed by doubts raised by the defense concerning forensic evidence and the mental history of the dead woman, Lana Clarkson.

"Some thought there was enough background to say yes, possibly she did kill herself," an electrician who voted to convict Spector said at a press conference.

Prosecutors said they will try again to convict Spector of a second-degree murder charge.

"We are disappointed that the jury was unable to reach a verdict in this case and we will begin immediately to prepare for the retrial," a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office said.

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A status conference on the retrial is set for next Wednesday.

Spector would have been the first celebrity in recent memory convicted of murder by the prosecutor's office, which suffered high-profile defeats with the acquittals of O.J. Simpson and Robert Blake.

Spector, looking frail and much older than his 67 years, remained stoic as Superior Court Judge Larry Fidler polled jurors about the possibility of further deliberation leading to a verdict. As each panelist replied "no," Spector wore a blank expression. (VIDEO)

Following the deadlock, he returned to the suburban mansion where the 2003 shooting occurred. He was accompanied by two bodyguards and his 26-year-old wife, Rachelle. Spector, who revolutionized pop music with albums for Tina Turner, The Beatles and The Crystals, is free on $1 million bail.

The judge told both sides that a gag order barring the Spectors, Clarkson's family and witnesses in the case from commenting would remain in effect.

Lana Clarkson was an aspiring actress hostessing at the House of Blues, where she met Phil Spector.

Clarkson's mother, Donna, and sister, Fawn, looked shaken as the judge dismissed the jury. Deputy District Attorney Alan Jackson leaned into the front row of the spectators' gallery and told Donna Clarkson, "I'm so sorry."

A lawyer for the family said the Clarksons, who have filed a civil suit against Spector and have attended the trial daily, were prepared to sit through a second trial.

"We will not rest until justice is done," attorney John Taylor said.

The foreman of the jury, who spoke to the press with two other panelists, said jurors felt a sense of "deep regret" that five months of testimony and 44 hours of deliberations had not resulted in a verdict. (VIDEO)

"I don't think any jury has worked harder than the jury on this trial," the foreman, a civil engineer who lives near Spector's mansion, said.