Streaming in from his cinderblock jail cell with a gold chain over his blue uniform and drinking an iced coffee, Suge Knight appears in court to testify for the first time in a wrongful death case from 2015, where he ran over a man while supposedly looking for Dr. Dre on the Straight Outta Compton production base.
The former Death Row Records exec is currently serving a 28-year prison sentence for the death of Terry Carter on January 29, 2015. Originally, Knight faced a murder charge since he intentionally shifted gears, hit the gas, and ran down Carter. Knight accepted a settlement in September 2018 for voluntary manslaughter instead of facing a trial.
Suge Knight In Court Testifying
Suge Knight’s appearance in court follows the filing of a wrongful death lawsuit by Carter’s wife and daughters. His sworn testimony was broadcast to the jurors on Wednesday June 8 in a Compton courthouse. He claimed he didn’t go looking for Dre or Straight Outta Compton base. Rather, he went to the site because he was driving “in the area” and was told to come discuss the Dre “situation.
Where It Went Wrong
Suge states that when he arrived at the site, he was told that Dre and the producers were “busy,” so he left. After, he received a call from longtime friend, Carter. He was invited to a meeting with Dre outside the burger stand where the incident took place. Knight testifies that he made a U-turn to head to the location. However, as he drove up he realized he was the target of an armed ambush.
The lawyer for Carter’s widow, Lance Behringer, questioned the scenario Knight was presenting about him “fearing for his life. He pointed out that Knight reversed out of the parking lot and then went back. Additionally, Behringer brought up the fact that he never mentioned being assaulted the night he showed up to surrender. Finally, it was pointed out that his former lawyer, Matthew Fletcher, recently pleaded guilty to conspiracy and perjury. This happened after prosecutors pointed out that Fletcher helped Knight plan bribes in ties with this incident.
This may just have been day 1 of testimony, but it’s already heating up!
Brittany Belizor | IG @brittieb_ | Twitter @BBelizor
