Former rap music mogul Suge Knight has languished in jail for over a year for a hit-and-run killing that occurred in January 2015. Now a trial date has been set for Feb. 22, 2017, for the murder of Terry Carter, 55, at a Compton burger stand not far from the filming of the NWA biopic, Straight Outta Compton. Knight is accused of running over Carter, killing him, and severely injuring another man identified as Cle “Bone” Sloan, with his pickup truck.
Knight claimed he was in fear of his life and thought it was an attempted assault and robbery. Since that time his health has been in steady decline with complaints of blood clots and difficulty breathing. He has fainted in court at least once during hearings and according to his defense lawyer, fears that he may die in jail. Last month Knight told a judge, “My time is ticking some days because of the health problems.”
Knight has complained of poor medical care while incarcerated and his lawyer, J. Tooson said, “Mr. Knight further indicates every time he is sent to the hospital the doctors are not allowed to treat him because [of] law enforcement.” Knight has pleaded not guilty to the charges of felony murder and attempted murder and hit-and-run that could see him facing life in prison.
His bond was set at a staggering $10.5 million by the court for the incident that he still calls an accident. Prosecutors have called Knight’s actions deliberate and an act of revenge after Sloan fought with Knight earlier that same day in a parking lot.
During his incarceration, Knight has been barred from seeing visitors, including his young son, by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office. Currently, he is only allowed to have visits with his legal team.
