LOS ANGELES — In the eyes of many legal observers, the case prosecutors put on against Phil Spector was close to flawless.

From the pitch-perfect testimony of the first witness, a woman who tearfully recounted a pistol-whipping at the music legend's hands, to the arresting death-scene animation that capped their summation, few found fault in the deputy district attorneys' presentation of evidence.

Spector's defense, by contrast, was marred by missteps in the eyes of many. The lead counsel left the trial for weeks to film a television judge show and then quit when not allowed to deliver a closing argument. Lawyers defaulted on a pledge of key testimony from Dr. Henry Lee after the famous criminalist was accused of destroying evidence. An impromptu courtroom demonstration backfired by giving jurors a disturbing image of Spector holding a gun.

But with Wednesday's deadlock and the promise of a retrial, the record of mistakes and triumphs in the five-month trial was wiped clean. And, as in the Gospel parable of the lender who forgives the loans of two debtors, one who owes 50 denarii and the other who owes 500, the opportunity to try to the case again makes both parties whole, but according to legal experts, benefits the defense most.

"There is nothing you can point to in the prosecution case and say, gee, they can correct that next time. There was no witness that went south on them or evidence that didn't come in the way they wanted," said Jean Rosenbluth, a University of Southern California law professor who closely followed the trial.

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"The defense benefits here," she added.

In what seems a vote of confidence in the prosecution team, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office said "some combination" of the attorneys who tried Spector — Patrick Dixon, Alan Jackson and Deputy District Attorney Ricardo Ocampo, who assisted them — will helm the retrial.

Dennis Riordan may be the lead defense attorney for Spector's retrial.

"The decision has already been made," Sandi Gibbons said less than 24 hours after the jury announced its 10-2 split.

Meanwhile, Spector's defense roster for a second trial remained unclear. Roger Rosen, who sometimes served as lead defense counsel, was fired Wednesday night. Another attorney for Spector, Bradley Brunon, said the music legend had selected Dennis Riordan, a San Francisco appellate attorney, to head the retrial defense.

Riordan, however, declined to confirm he had been promoted.

"At this point, what role if any I'll play in this case in the future is yet to be determined," he said.

Bruce Cutler left Spector's defense team for good when Spector decided he would not let him do the closing arguments.

A strong defense leader at a retrial would stand in contrast to the committee of attorneys who shepherded Spector's defense. Some of those lawyers complained about tension and a lack of leadership among the large legal team, although those gripes ebbed after the departure of colorful New York mob attorney Bruce Cutler at the start of closing arguments.

Christopher Plourd, one of two defense forensic specialists, said that he hoped to represent Spector again, but was awaiting word from the defendant.

The San Diego lawyer said that the defense would have to retool its case for a second trial, but would not offer specifics.

"You can assume there are going to be some strategic decisions made," he said.