November 20, 2007 14:53

New defendants allowed in Notorious BIG suit

Recent developments lead to judge’s approval

A US District Court Judge has ruled that several new defendants may be named in the wrongful death suit filed by the family of murdered rapper Notorious BIG.

Newly discovered evidence in the case led to the decision that police officers Rafael Perez and other members of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) as well as record executive Marion ‘Suge’ Knight may be named defendants in the suit, reports the Associated Press.

Notorious BIG, whose real name was Christopher Wallace, was shot down on March 9, 1997 when he was leaving a Los Angeles party.

His family filed a wrongful death suit against the city accusing the LAPD -- specifically Perez' former patrol partner, David Mack – of killing Wallace.

Mack and Perez have denied any involvement in the incident, however new evidence shows that Perez was on duty the night of BIG’s slaying and may have been at the scene.

A prior lawsuit ended in mistrial in 2005.

--By our Los Angeles staff.
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