The troubled hip-hop star appeared in Los Angeles Superior Court earlier this month (Oct15), when Judge Ronald Coen ruled there was enough evidence against Knight and his comedian pal Katt Williams to take a 2014 altercation case to trial.

During the 13 October (15) hearing, Knight turned to TV cameras and held up a piece of paper, on which he'd scribbled "Happy B-day Legend" to mark the boy's sixth birthday.

The low-key stunt didn't go unnoticed in the press, and it landed Knight in trouble with Judge Coen when he returned to court for arraignment this week.

Issuing a stern warning to the incarcerated 50 year old, the official said, "If he does it again, I will shackle his hands to a chair."

Knight and his co-accused then entered not guilty pleas in response to the felony robbery charges, which were brought against the pair after they allegedly attempted to snatch paparazzo Leslie Redden's camera during an incident outside a recording studio in Beverly Hills, California last year (14), days after Knight was shot at a party.

Knight has also denied making criminal threats against Redden.

A trial date has yet to be set, but the stars are due back in court on 30 November (15).

Knight faces 30 years to life in prison if found guilty, due to a previous conviction for assault with a deadly weapon, while Williams is looking at up to seven years behind bars.

The mogul remains in custody on $10 million (£6.25 million) bail as he faces separate charges of murder and attempted murder following a fatal hit-and-run accident on a California film set in January (15). He has been summoned to court for an update on that case on 11 December (15).