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Suge Knight trial: Rap mogul pleads no contest over hit-and-run death | Suge Knight trial: Rap mogul pleads no contest over hit-and-run death |
(35 minutes later) | |
Former US rap mogul Marion "Suge" Knight has pleaded no contest to a voluntary manslaughter charge over a hit-and-run incident in 2015. | Former US rap mogul Marion "Suge" Knight has pleaded no contest to a voluntary manslaughter charge over a hit-and-run incident in 2015. |
The Death Row Records founder made the plea to avoid charges of murdering one man and attempting to murder a second with his pick-up truck in Los Angeles. | The Death Row Records founder made the plea to avoid charges of murdering one man and attempting to murder a second with his pick-up truck in Los Angeles. |
He will be formally sentenced to 28 years in prison in October. | He will be formally sentenced to 28 years in prison in October. |
His record label helped launch the careers of artists including Dr Dre, Tupac Shakur and Snoop Dogg. | His record label helped launch the careers of artists including Dr Dre, Tupac Shakur and Snoop Dogg. |
Under Californian state law, a no contest plea is the legal equivalent of a guilty plea. | Under Californian state law, a no contest plea is the legal equivalent of a guilty plea. |
As part of the agreement, the murder charges against Knight, 53, will be dismissed by prosecutors, along with separate criminal cases charging him with robbery and making criminal threats. | As part of the agreement, the murder charges against Knight, 53, will be dismissed by prosecutors, along with separate criminal cases charging him with robbery and making criminal threats. |
The deal calls for Knight to serve 22 years in prison for voluntary manslaughter with a further six years added because of the US "three-strikes" law relating to repeated violations. | |
Had Knight been found guilty of murder as originally charged, he would have faced life in prison, prosecutors said. | Had Knight been found guilty of murder as originally charged, he would have faced life in prison, prosecutors said. |
What happened in the hit-and-run? | |
The charge relates to an incident in January 2015 in Compton, a suburb of Los Angeles. Knight was accused of deliberately running over two men with his pick-up truck before fleeing the scene. | |
One of the victims, Terry Carter, died of his injuries while the other, Cle "Bone" Sloan, was seriously injured. | One of the victims, Terry Carter, died of his injuries while the other, Cle "Bone" Sloan, was seriously injured. |
Footage of the incident captured by security cameras show Knight's vehicle pulling up to a drive-in burger stand, with one of the victims approaching the driver's side window. A struggle then ensues. | |
Knight's truck is seen going into reverse, throwing the man to the ground. It then moves forward, driving over his legs and slams into the other victim, who was killed. | |
Knight turned himself in to authorities a day after the incident. His attorneys had said he was acting in self-defence and was fleeing armed attackers when he ran over Mr Carter and Mr Sloan. | |
Mr Sloan has denied claims he was carrying a gun during the confrontation. |