Knight’s Lawyer Presents Videotape

Security videotape shot outside a Hollywood nightclub shows that Marion “Suge” Knight did not assault a parking valet two weeks ago, contradicting accounts by state parole officials and Los Angeles police, a lawyer representing the rap mogul said Tuesday.

Attorney Rose Kogeman said her office has presented the videotape to parole officials, along with the unidentified victim, who said Knight did not assault him, she said.

“He could see Mr. Knight in front of him when the guy punched him from the back. The video does show a guy walking up behind the valet,” Kogeman said. “I took the valet to the parole agent for Mr. Knight yesterday.”

A spokeswoman with the state Department of Corrections said she would not respond to any claims of innocence by Knight’s attorney.

“Mr. Knight has the right to a Board of Prison Terms revocation hearing, where both sides will be heard,” spokeswoman Margot Bach said.

Knight has been held in County Jail since June 27 awaiting a hearing before the board.

Los Angeles police alleged the valet was punched by Knight on June 21 outside the White Lotus nightclub.

Kogeman said she would present at least eight other witnesses at the hearing scheduled for later this month to determine whether Knight violated the terms of his parole.

If Knight is found to have committed assault, it would be the second time in a year that the rap impresario has returned to prison for such a violation.

In February, he was determined to have violated parole by associating with a gang member.

Knight, the founder of Death Row Records, was convicted in 1992 of assault and weapons violations and was placed on probation.

In 1996, he was jailed for five years for violating probation after he and several associates, including rap star Tupac Shakur, beat a gang rival at a Las Vegas hotel. Three hours later, Shakur was shot dead.

Knight could spend up to a year behind bars if parole officials decide to revoke his parole.

Parole officials have alleged in the most recent incident that Knight became upset and punched a valet in the face because his parked car was blocked by other vehicles.

But Kogeman said at a news conference last week that an unidentified man had an altercation with the valet as Knight was waiting for his car.

She was joined by Nation of Islam Minister Tony Muhammad, who said that he was with the rap mogul at all times that evening and that Knight did not strike anyone.