In addition to the ongoing criminal trial, Hip-hop mogul Suge Knight is now facing lawsuit related to the death of Hollywood Records co-founder Terry Carter. In February 2015, Knight was formally charged with murdering Carter, following an alleged hit-and-run incident.
Media outlet TMZ is reporting that Carter’s wife and children are suing Knight in a wrongful death and negligence lawsuit. Also named in the documents are Dr. Dre and Ice Cube – the rappers that are producing the NWA biopic Straight Outta Compton – because, it is claimed that they hired known gang members to provide security and protection for on location filming in neighborhoods where gang violence is prevalent.
The suit is claiming that the gang members incited a fight, and panicked Knight as they allegedly threatened him, which fed into his decision to hastily put his car into reverse and back through the parking lot, when he struck and killed Carter. In April, it came to light that there is video footage that shows the alleged hit-and-run collision.
The incident took place on the 29th of January 2015, in the parking lot of Tam’s Burgers in Compton, Los Angeles, California. As such, the Carter family has named the restaurant in their negligence suit, claiming that Tam’s should have had hired security personnel, as violent crimes happen routinely on the premises, according to NME. Click here to read the entire suit online, courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter.
The family is seeking an unspecified amount of damages in this suit.
Since the investigation of the events and the trial began, Knight has faced a series of medical issues. In the early stages of his detainment, he suffered what was initially reported to be panic attack, which later turned out to be a blood clot that required short stay in Long Beach Memorial Hospital, before he was transferred back to prison for ongoing treatment.
Then, more recently, he collapsed in court after the judge ordered that his bail be set at $25 million (£16.7 million). The presiding judge “Judge Ronald S Coen said the huge fee was justified as the hip-hop mogul was already on bail over a separate robbery case at the time of his arrest,” according to NME.
If convicted on the murder charges, Knight could face life in prison.
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