The saga of Marion “Suge” Knight, who has been charged in connection with a fatal hit-and-run on Jan. 29, grew even more unusual on Tuesday when Knight was rushed to the hospital following his arraignment. Knight pled not guilty to charges of murder and attempted murder, as well as two counts of hit-and-run. According to Variety, a police spokeswoman had no details about Knight’s medical condition.
Knight, 49, the former CEO of Death Row Records, made his first court appearance after being charged with allegedly running his pick-up truck over Terry Carter, a friend of Knight’s, and actor Cle Denyale Sloan following an altercation outside a restaurant in Compton, California. Carter died from his injuries, while Sloan was treated for “non-life-threatening injuries.” According to several reports, the trouble reportedly began after Knight attempted to visit the set of Universal Pictures’ forthcoming N.W.A. biopic Straight Outta Compton, a set from which he was reportedly banned due to an ongoing feud with Dr. Dre.
The Daily Beast reported Knight appeared with a new attorney, David Kenner, after replacing former attorney James Blatt. Kenner has a long history representing Death Row Records’ interests in court, having successfully defended Snoop Dogg in a first-degree murder trial in 1996. Kenner told journalists there’s possibly video of the incident, in which eyewitnesses reportedly said they saw Knight back his vehicle over the men, demonstrating intent. Knight’s attorney won’t be the only figure to be replaced in the matter, with Los Angeles Superior Court Judge John J. Cheroske recusing himself from the matter due to his past representation of one of the victims when he was a practicing attorney.
Knight will remain in jail while he awaits trial due to the revocation of a $2 million bail after he was declared a flight risk.