Music mogul Marion 'Suge' Knight has been charged with misdemeanour battery and two counts of drug possession.

The charges relate to Knight's arrest in August on suspicion of assaulting a woman in a Las Vegas car park.

Knight was discovered by police “violently beating” Melissa Isaac while holding a knife. It is also claimed that he was in possession of ecstasy and hydrocodone at the time.

The former head of Death Row Records' defence lawyer Richard Schonfeld said his client intended to plead not guilty at a hearing next month.

If found guilty, Knight could face up to four years in prison for each drug charge and a further six months for the count of misdemeanour battery.

Knight filed for bankruptcy earlier this year.

Since the early 90s, his label has been responsible for releasing pioneering albums by hip-hop stars such as Tupac and Snoop Dogg.

But Knight's private life has been dogged by persistent legal issues, including drug and parole offences.

(by Jason Gregory)