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 The Death Row Records founder, 49, is accused of stealing a
camera in an altercation with a celebrity photographer in
southern California.
He is charged with murder in a separate case, in which
prosecutors said he ran down two men with a pickup truck at a
Los Angeles area burger stand on Jan. 29, killing one of them,
following an argument on the set of a commercial for the film
"Straight Outta Compton."
Comedian Katt Williams, 43, is also charged in the robbery case.
During a hearing in Los Angeles Superior Court, Knight did not
give a reason for making his request to replace his attorney,
David Kenner, when Judge Ronald Coen asked him if that was what
he wanted to do.
"Is Kenner fired?" Coen later asked.
"Kenner is fired," Knight said.
Kenner, who has a long history of working with Knight, was not
present during the court hearing.
Coen set a May 27 court hearing and said until then Knight could
seek a new attorney.
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Knight, who in previous court hearings this year has complained of
health problems and been taken to the hospital, is in custody
awaiting trial in the two cases. He was rolled into court Wednesday
by sheriff's deputies in a so-called safety seat.
He complained about the arrangement to the judge, saying that he
could walk.
"If you can walk, you can walk. It won't happen again," Coen said.
He added that Knight had previously complained of paralysis on one
side.
Outside of court, attorney Matthew Fletcher, who consulted with
Knight during the hearing on Wednesday and represents him in the
murder case, said the safety chair was unnecessary.
"Come on, this is getting to the point of abject humiliation,"
Fletcher told reporters after the hearing. He said he did not expect
to represent Knight in the robbery case.
(Editing by Sharon Bernstein and Sandra Maler)
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