Suge Knight’s lawyer fails to withdraw as his attorney days before retrial
Suge Knight‘s lawyer attempted to withdraw as the Death Row founder’s attorney but was denied this week, just days before his retrial. Los Angeles County Judge Thomas Long denied David Kenner’s motion, calling it “untimely” on the “eve of trial.”
59-year-old Knight is serving a 28-year prison sentence for a voluntary manslaughter conviction involving the hit-and-run death of Terry Carter in 2015. The first trial ended with jurors deadlocking seven to five to find Knight responsible.
Kenner claimed he could no longer represent Knight after learning something “disturbing” during a phone call and felt “anxious about being able to competently and energetically try this case.”
Planning to file an appeal, Kenner said, “Mr Knight is entitled to representation in which there’s no conflict. Both he and I are in a terrible position. I don’t want to do it. I don’t want to [represent him].”
According to Rolling Stone, Long kept the April 7th start date but ordered them back for a final status conference on April 4th. A one-week delay is possible if the parties agree to cut down their planned evidence and testimony.
Knight, currently imprisoned at the RJ Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego, said he couldn’t proceed without Kenner and that his claim that they experienced an “irreconcilable conflict” was false.
“I don’t want to put anyone in a bad situation, but I have some real concerns,” he said. “I’ve known Mr Kenner for a very long time, and I feel we still have a relationship. I do want to move forward. I’m very tired and want to put this behind me. I never wanted any delays in the first place.”