Could this video put rap mogul away?

Awaiting trial ... Marion "Suge" Knight, right, during his arraignment in Compton, California. Picture: AP Source: AP

A GRUESOME video has emerged of rap mogul Suge Knight running over two men, killing one, in what's sure to be key evidence in his upcoming murder trial.

TMZ posted the graphic footage showing Knight in a red truck pulling into the car park of a California burger joint where he's confronted by Cle "Bone" Sloan, 51, on January 29.

Knight appears to back up and clip Sloan, knocking him down.

Seconds later, Knight sped forward, running over Sloan a second time before ploughing into Terry Carter, 55, the video showed. Carter died from his injuries.

Warning: Graphic video

Both sides will claim this footage will help them win the case, according to TMZ.

The DA is expected to argue that whatever threat Knight believed he faced following his confrontation with Sloan, he was in the clear after clipping him and should have just driven off.

But the defence will argue that the path Knight took was his only escape and he feared being shot. Both Carter and Sloan were armed, Knight's lawyers said.

The video showed a man coming to Sloan — after he was hit the second time — and removing something from the victim's body and putting it in his waistband.

TMZ claimed that Carter's family urged it to post the video.

Rap legend ... "Suge" Knight at the BET Awards in Los Angeles. Source: News Corp Australia

"The Carter family is pleased you are releasing the video so the public can see what actually occurred and not be forced to speculate based on third party descriptions of the video," family lawyer Gary Dordick said.

Sloan worked security for Dr Dre's movie about the seminal rap group N.W.A., Straight Outta Compton.

The deadly confrontation came after an argument Knight had with Dre. The notorious rap mogul said he went to Tam's Burgers looking for Dre so they could make peace.