LOS ANGELES (AFP) - The former chauffeur of Phil Spector told a Los Angeles court Tuesday how the legendary music producer confessed to killing a B-movie actress at his home four years ago.

Brazilian driver Adriano DeSouza said Spector had emerged from his castle-like Los Angeles mansion holding a gun in his bloodied hand before telling him: "I think I killed somebody."

Spector's confession came just moments after a shot had rang out in the early hours of February 3, 2003, when the rock legend is alleged to have gunned down Lana Clarkson, just hours after meeting her in a Hollywood nightclub.

In dramatic testimony in the third week of the Los Angeles Superior Court trial, DeSouza said he had been sitting in a Mercedes in the driveway of Spector's home when he heard what he described as a loud "pow".

After failing to locate the source of the noise he returned to the car. But a few minutes later a side entrance opened to reveal Spector holding a gun, with blood on his hand.

Asked by prosecutor Alan Jackson if Spector spoke to him, DeSouza replied: "He said 'I think I killed somebody.'"

When DeSouza asked Spector what happened, he shrugged his shoulders, the court heard. DeSouza said he looked past Spector inside the doorway to see Clarkson's legs sprawled in the hallway.

In the defense opening statement last month, Spector's high-powered New York lawyer Bruce Cutler poured scorn on DeSouza's expected testimony, dismissing the statement as "five words allegedly said to someone taking a siesta."

Prosecutors have alleged that Spector, 67, has a "rich history" of violent rages against women involving guns that culminated with the murder of Clarkson in the foyer of his castle-like mansion in Los Angeles.

Four women at his murder trial have testified earlier that Spector threatened them with guns after flying into a drunken rage.

Spector, the reclusive musical genius who pioneered the 1960s "Wall of Sound" recording technique, denies shooting and killing 40-year-old Clarkson just hours after meeting her at Sunset Boulevard nightclub The House of Blues.

DeSouza told the court earlier that Clarkson, a hostess at the club, had initially turned down Spector's invitation to go back to his imposing faux-gothic residence, before finally accepting.

DeSouza, a computer science graduate who served in the Brazilian army for nine years, said Spector had flown into a rage after Clarkson had spoke to him.

"She said 'I'm going just for one drink'," DeSouza said. He said Spector responded by screaming: "Don't talk to the driver!"

Spector is regarded as one of the most influential figures in rock-pop music history. In the early 1960s he was responsible for hits including "Da Doo Ron Ron," "Be My Baby, Baby" and "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin.'"

Famed for his work with The Beatles, Tina Turner, The Righteous Brothers, The Ronettes and The Ramones, he faces 15 years to life in prison if convicted of second-degree murder.

Spector, who a few weeks before the shooting described himself as "relatively insane" and tortured by "devils inside me," said Clarkson shot herself accidentally.

Clarkson starred in 1987's "Amazon Women on the Moon" and 1991's "The Haunting of Morella," but her career had stalled at the time of her death.