Suge Knight Prosecutors Seek $25m For Bail

Prosecutors in the Marion "Suge" Knight murder case have requested a judge set the rap mogul's bail at $25m (£17m), claiming he has extorted millions of dollars from rappers in recent years.

The motion filed by a lawyer cites 31 incidents in which Knight is accused of threatening others or using violence since 2004.

It also states that he has been involved in money-laundering and extortion schemes targeting up-and-coming, as well as established, rappers.

Knight and an associate have been involved in an extortion scheme that has netted more than $10m, an affidavit filed by a sheriff's detective says.

"Apparently when a new artist or rapper comes to either Los Angeles or Las Vegas, he is required to pay a 'tax' to defendant Knight," the motion states.

The Death Row Records co-founder is scheduled to appear in a Los Angeles courtroom on Friday morning for a hearing regarding his bail.

He is being held without bail on murder, attempted murder and hit-and-run charges filed after striking two men, killing one of them, with his truck during a fight in a Compton, California, carpark in late January.

Knight, 49, has pleaded not guilty.

If Knight attempts to post bail, a lawyer has requested that he prove the money has not come from illegal activities.

And if Los Angeles Superior Court judge Ronald Coen grants Knight bail, he would either have to post the entire amount in cash or pay a bond company 8% of the bail amount and they would put up the whole amount, Los Angeles criminal defence attorney Lou Shapiro said.