A Las Vegas judge has dismissed drug and battery charges against hip-hop mogul Marion "Suge" Knight.

A court spokesman says Justice of the Peace Abbi Silver dismissed the charges without prejudice Friday (December 5). Knight's attorney David Chesnoff says the prosecution had "witness problems."

Knight had been charged with two counts of felony drug possession and one count of misdemeanor battery.

Police say they had seen the founder of Death Row Records beating a woman while brandishing a knife near the Las Vegas Strip in August.

The district attorney's office has filed a notice with the court indicating they were likely to seek a grand jury indictment.