Former rap mogul Marion “Suge” Knight has hired a new attorney, his fourth since he was taken into custody in January, court officials said on Friday.
Thomas Mesereau, who successfully defended Michael Jackson against child molestation charges, replaced attorney Matthew Fletcher.
Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Ronald Coen on Friday rescheduled a hearing on a motion by Knight to dismiss murder, attempted murder and hit-and-run charges.
The hearing was postponed until July 7 to give Mesereau time to familiarise himself with the case.
Mesereau did not immediately return a request for comment.
Knight is accused of deliberately running over Terry Carter, 55, and Cle “Bone” Sloan, 51, in a restaurant parking lot on January 29 after an argument on the set of a commercial about the film Straight Outta Compton. Carter died and Sloan was injured.
Knight surrendered to authorities hours later.
He is charged with murder, attempted murder and two counts of hit-and-run with an allegation that he committed a violent felony while out on bail in another case. Knight has pleaded not guilty.
Knight’s previous attorney had argued that the producer acted in self-defence and was trying to drive away because one of the men attacked him.
Authorities said an argument broke out on the set of a commercial about the film Straight Outta Compton before Knight’s car collided with Sloan and Carter.
The production of the film sparked Knight’s anger last year, according to court documents.
Fletcher made headlines last month when he said that if Knight’s friend, boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr, won his history-making match against Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas, Mayweather would cover his client’s $10-million (Dh36.7 million) bail.
Mayweather won the fight, but apparently no deal was ever made because Knight’s bail went unpaid.
