Suge Knight’s alleged fatal hit-and-run revealed in full video as lawyer claims footage vidicates rap mogul of murder (WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT)
BY NANCY DILLON , MEG WAGNER
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Published: Monday, March 9, 2015, 7:11 AM
Updated: Monday, March 9, 2015, 3:11 PM
- A
- A
- A
Leaked security video shows the exact moment Suge Knight mowed down two men with his truck – and the rap mogul’s new lawyer claims the graphic footage vindicates his client of murder.
The video, published early Monday by TMZ.com, was filmed Jan 29. in the parking lot of Tam's Burgers in Compton, Calif.
It appears to shows Knight drive up in his red Ford F-150 Raptor truck as gang member-turned filmmaker Cle “Bone” Sloan approaches on the driver's side and a scuffle breaks out.
The truck is seen rocking from the intensity of the fight taking place through the open window.
Local businessman Terry Carter walks up behind Sloan in the video, but it’s not clear from the angle if Carter became involved in the physical altercation.
Knight, 49, pops the truck in reverse, knocking Sloan down, and then guns it forward to crush both men under his axles. Carter died from his injuries.
Knight’s new lawyer – officially hired in a brief court hearing Monday – rushed to defend the co-founder of Death Row Records and dismiss claims Knight could have fled the scene without plowing back through the parking lot and cutting down Carter.
PreviousNext
Suge Knight appears in court in Los Angeles Monday morning.
“Suge didn’t get out of the car and attack them. They attacked Suge,” Knight's lawyer, Matthew Fletcher, said.
“You’re not required by law to run. You’re not required to retreat,” he said, arguing that if Knight had tried to drive away in another direction, he might have ended up a sitting duck.
“If he wrecks, he’s dead. They’re attacking him,” he said.
“When you’re trying to get away from something, do you drive in reverse or do you drive in drive? You go forward. He went forward,” Fletcher said.
Fletcher said Sloan and Carter lured Knight to Tam’s and initiated an armed assault that involved a third unidentified man who removed one or more weapons from the scene after Knight left.
“I told Suge the same thing I’m telling you…I said, ‘This (video) helps you beyond any stretch of the imagination. It’s no longer speculation. It’s no longer guessing. You have three men attacking you, and I point this out, in broad daylight,’” Fletcher said Monday.
FAME CHURCH/ SPLASH NEWS
M. TRAN/FILMMAGIC
Terry Carter (l.) was killed while Cle ‘Bone’ Sloan was injured during the Jan. 29 hit-and-run.
He also scoffed at claims Carter was trying to broker peace after Knight was asked to leave a nearby production set related to the N.W.A. biopic “Straight Outta Compton” earlier that day.
He said the married dad was known to carry a personal firearm and acted as Sloan’s “getaway driver” that day.
“If you go with the intention of battering – whether it’s robbing, whether it’s carjacking, whether it’s pushing or ‘I’m going to really give him a good beating,’ – and someone dies, that is not the person’s fault who got beat up,” the lawyer said.
“Once you’re established as the initial aggressor in California, you cannot then say ‘Oh let me out of this.’ You started a fight, you came with guns, you came with grown men who attacked (Knight),” Fletcher said.
Sloan worked as a technical advisor on the new N.W.A. film, and Carter was friends with N.W.A. rapper Ice Cube through Heavyweight Records, a label they founded together.
In the security video, Carter appeared to have his hands down at his sides after Knight reversed over Sloan and then began racing in his direction.
Knight is facing a murder charge in the death of Carter and an attempted murder rap for Sloan.
Prosecutors believe Knight intentionally struck the men and fled the scene in a hit and run.
In the video posted by TMZ, the third unidentified man is seen running up to Sloan after the incident and possibly taking something from the injured man.
Knight has pleaded not guilty in the case and remains in jail on a no-bail hold.
In his brief court appearance Monday, Knight confirmed to a judge that he hired Fletcher to replace his former defense lawyer. His next court date is March 20.
Wearing an orange prison uniform and glasses, Knight flashed a smile at Fletcher as he was led away.
