A new book entitled Blood & Justice on the Sunset Strip: The Life, Loves & Lies of Hollywood Criminal Defense Attorney Peter Knecht – A Memoir, has just been released on Amazon by BearManor Media. Authored by the legendary Hollywood attorney Peter Knecht, who passed away in 2014, the new book was brought to life posthumously by his wife, Dr. Ava Cadell, who served as the book’s editor and co-publisher. The book is a riveting account of an iconic Hollywood Criminal Defense Attorney and his legal battles on behalf of dozens of high-profile celebrities.
The film and TV rights to Blood & Justice On The Sunset Strip are now available.
During his time in private practice, Peter Knecht became a renowned Criminal Defense Attorney who represented many Hollywood celebrities, including Sly Stone, David Crosby, Dennis Hopper, Peter Fonda, Ike Turner, Ryan and Tatum O’Neal, Robert Blake, Charles Bronson, Robert Downey Jr, Andy Garcia, John Barrymore Jr., Jason Priestly, Rob Lowe, and Heidi Fleiss, among others.
Reflecting on her late husband’s legacy, Dr. Ava Cadell expressed, “Peter and I shared 27 wonderful years together until he passed away in 2014, after a courageous battle with cancer. It was the only battle he ever lost. It’s such an honor for me to share his remarkable career and life story with the world. This book is a powerful testament to his dedication to justice and passion for life and captures the essence of a man who lived with courage and conviction. On his gravestone, I had it written: ‘He Lived, He Loved, He Conquered,’ which perfectly encapsulates the legacy Peter Knecht left behind.”
About BLOOD & JUSTICE ON THE SUNSET STRIP
Blood & Justice on the Sunset Strip offers readers the history of Peter Knecht’s work with the criminal courts of Los Angeles and his interactions with the Hollywood crowd on the Sunset Strip for over 50 years. Knecht represented some of the biggest celebrities Hollywood has ever seen, however, according to his law partners, he never let his success go to his head. He treated every client like they were a star.
The book details Knecht’s early life, as he vividly recounts his family’s harrowing escape from Nazi-ruled Austria, where they faced unimaginable terror as Nazis destroyed his crib and left him for dead. This perilous journey marked the beginning of the Knecht Family’s adjustment to the American way of life, where they strove to rebuild and thrive in a new land. Knecht’s dedication to education led him through law school; afterwards, he rose to become a top “go-to” legal expert for celebrities entangled in legal controversies. The book also delves into his significant role in amending California’s “search and seizure laws” and his contributions as a legal analyst on major media outlets.
Perhaps the most chilling story in the memoir is Knecht’s own near-death experience in 1998, when he survived an attempted murder at his home. Despite having his throat cut from ear to ear and having multiple stab wounds in his chest, Knecht’s quick thinking saved the lives of his mother, his wife, and his housekeeper, by preventing the perpetrators from entering their home.
Before his attackers had fled, Knecht had just pulled up to his Sunset Hills home when he was surrounded by gunmen. They put a .44-caliber automatic to his head and demanded money. He turned over his wallet and his watch, but the next command he refused. “They wanted to handcuff me and take me into the house,” Knecht writes. “I knew it would be torture time. If I let them in, everyone would be killed.” Shaken but steadfast, he looked his assailants in the eye and said, “That’s not going to happen. It ends here, gentlemen.” Knecht was prepared to die rather than subject his 87-year-old mother, his wife, and their housekeeper to a similar fate. He braced himself — as it flashed through his mind that he would never see these three women or his two children again. Knecht realized he would not have a chance to say goodbye. He was prepared to take a bullet– but got a blade instead.
One of the attackers pushed Knecht down and sliced through his throat. Seconds later, they took off, leaving him for dead. Clutching his neck with both hands, Knecht staggered to the house, hit 9-1-1 and collapsed. His wife, Dr. Ava Cadell, administered first aid and helped keep him alive until paramedics arrived 10 minutes later. After a two-hour surgery that included a tracheotomy, Knecht awoke to the comforting sight of his wife and a few close friends.
Although he had survived, the outcome was uncertain. Would he ever speak again? Had he suffered permanent brain damage? Nobody knew at that time. Incredibly, the knife missed every vital artery and Knecht made a full recovery. Three weeks later, he was back at work. Six gang members were soon thereafter arrested in connection with the case. All confessed. Knecht’s wallet and jewelry were recovered.
Writes Knecht of the ordeal: “You never appreciate life enough, until you are in the position of losing it. We are all just so lucky to be alive and well, and that is something no one should forget.”
“This harrowing account showcases my late husband’s bravery and resilience, qualities that defined his illustrious career,” Dr. Cadell adds.
A Story Made For The Screen
The compelling narrative and dramatic real-life events chronicled in Blood & Justice on the Sunset Strip are ripe for adaptation into a feature film or television series. The story of Peter Knecht’s life, marked by high-stakes legal battles and personal courage, offers a rich tapestry for filmmakers and showrunners interested in exploring the complexities of the criminal justice system and Hollywood’s underbelly.
About The Late Peter Knecht
Born in 1936 in Vienna to Dr. Rudolph and Elizabeth Knecht, Peter Knecht was an infant when he fled with his family to the U.S. during World War II, eventually landing in Los Angeles. He attended the University of Southern California and Southwestern College of Law, and later taught “Search and Seizure” at the LA Sheriff’s Academy.
Knecht served as the District Attorney for Beverly Hills and Malibu before going into private practice in 1966, when he opened the Law Offices of Peter L. Knecht on the Sunset Strip.
During his time in private practice, Peter Knecht became a renowned Criminal Defense Attorney who represented many Hollywood celebrities, including Sly Stone, David Crosby, Dennis Hopper, Peter Fonda, Ike Turner, Ryan and Tatum O’Neal, Robert Blake, Charles Bronson, Robert Downey Jr, Andy Garcia, John Barrymore Jr., Jason Priestly, Rob Lowe, and Heidi Fleiss, among others.
Knecht appeared as a TV analyst on criminal justice for major media outlets, such as Good Morning America, The Today Show, and Celebrity Justice. He also appeared as a legal expert on numerous national and international television networks, including CNN, CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX and local LA stations KCAL-Channel 9 and KCOP Channel 13. He is credited with forever changing California’s search and seizure laws by taking adverse rulings to the Appellate and Supreme Courts of California.
In 1998, Knecht survived a murder attempt at his home. In 2014, he received a 50-year plaque from the California Bar Association. In addition to his wife, Dr. Ava Cadell, Peter Knecht’s survivors include his son Chance, daughter Courtney, and grandchildren Aaron and Claire.
Testimonials About The Late Peter Knecht
“I first met Peter Knecht in 1979 on the set of an Andy Sidaris movie called ‘Seven’ in Kauai—in that film, he played the lead bad guy named Kimo Maderos and I was his right-hand man named Skip. We had a lot of fun – we were there for a couple of weeks. I so loved Hawaii I even considered moving there. I didn’t know much about Peter when we first met, but quickly learned that he was a very successful criminal attorney back in Hollywood. We had such a good time making that film that our friendship continued on after we both got back to Los Angeles. He was always available to me if I ever had a business or legal question, I could always come to him. Peter and his lovely wife Ava and I would often go to watch new movies and eat dinners at Andy Sidaris’ house. Peter was a real good soul, and, considering all of the troubled characters he represented, it always impressed me that none of his clients’ negative metaphysical or emotional characteristics rubbed off on him. His personality never changed from the day I met him until the last time I saw him, shortly before he passed away about ten years ago. You never saw the pressure and the darkness within him that I’ve seen so many times within other attorneys — a level of hunger and frustration and constant expediency, always rushing around and speaking fast. He was just a guy who loved the movies and the entertainment industry, and was very fond of actors. That’s why I am so sad he’s gone. Peter also had very good taste in women. I even secretly admired his wife, Ava, for many years, from afar.” — Martin Kove, Actor, “The Karate Kid” Movie Franchise, and the “Cobra Kai” TV Series
“I was the surgeon on call the evening that Peter Knecht was brought to the hospital with a severe knife wound across his neck. He had severe bleeding which required surgical control, and the front of his larynx (voice box) was cut open. I had to do a tracheostomy to place a tube in his windpipe below the injury so he could breathe until the surgical repairs had healed. We didn’t know if he would have a normal voice until the tracheostomy could be removed. After about 10 days, the tracheostomy tube was taken out, and to everyone’s relief, his voice quality was excellent. Peter proved to be one of the most stoic and appreciative patients I have ever cared for in more than 50 years of surgical practice. It was extremely gratifying to help him recover and return to the legal profession, which was so important to him.” – Dr. Jordan Goodstein, MD/Surgeon
“Peter was amazing, he really was. From the moment I would walk into his immensely grand office, I felt secure hiring this gentleman. He would always be there for his clients. I’m pretty sure I hired him three or more different times in my life when I was having some difficulties, and he always went to bat for me. When you hired him, he was there for you, 24/7. When he showed up in court, he had amazing connections and was always so kind. I could call him at any moment and he would break down what our next steps had to be. He always made me feel secure. Years later, when I was the hostess at the Le Petit Bistro, he and his new wife, Ava Cadell, would often come into the restaurant – it was great for me to re-connect with him so many years later. I do miss him – Peter was one in a million.” Victoria Sellers, Actress/Model and Daughter of Peter Sellers
“Seldom in our lives do we meet someone whose own life experiences—positive and challenging—impact our lives with their wisdom, positivity, humor and genuine friendship. I met Peter Knecht in the early ‘90s — his reputation as one of the most esteemed criminal attorneys in the country came from representing headline-making celebrity ‘bad boys.’ Who would have thought that when I called his office to inquire about a problem I was having with ‘mean spirited-animal hating’ neighbors that he would take the time to return my call. But he did. His caring and profound assurance that he would ‘take care of my problem’ not only produced a ‘win’ in court, but it brought forth a friendship that lasted until he left this world and now watches over us from heaven. Peter Knecht will never be forgotten.” Suzanne Takowsky, Publisher of The Beverly Hills Times Magazine
“Peter Knecht was my law partner, a very dear friend, and one of the most legendary Criminal Defense Attorneys to ever live. Peter ruled the criminal courts in Los Angeles, and the Sunset Strip, for over 50 years. While Peter represented some of the biggest celebrities Hollywood has ever seen, he never let that go to his head. Peter effectively and tirelessly pursued justice and freedom for his clients by utilizing his keen vision and intellect – as well as his friendships and connections that he cultivated over 50+ years – to pursue the best strategies available under each circumstance. In the process, Peter treated everyone with respect and every client like they were a star. Peter adopted a famous phrase by Eleanor Roosevelt to describe his work ethic and philosophy, which I myself, adopted as well. Mrs. Roosevelt said, ‘If you want to get something done; go to a busy man.’ Indeed, Peter remained busy and accomplished great things for his beloved clients until the very end. I had the honor and privilege of sharing an office with Peter for almost a decade before he died. He taught me so much, and I will forever be grateful to him. I pledged to him prior to his passing that I would continue to be a tireless fighter for my clients just like he was, and I have continued to do so in his honor. The legend lives on.” James E. Silverstein, Attorney
“When I gave up practicing law to become a full-time magician, Peter introduced me to his friends and celebrity clients, who hired me to entertain at their parties. I am forever grateful to Peter for these introductions, which led me to become The Fantastic Fig, the best known close-up magician in Hollywood. Peter was also instrumental in the success of my parties above the Sunset Strip, when I became known as ‘LA’s Party King,’ because of the guests who attended my parties. Among my party guest were such icons as Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, John Lennon, and David Bowie – who performed in my living room when Mercury Records hired me to entertain for their recording artists on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 1971.” Paul Fegen, Renowned Magician and Former Attorney
“Peter Knecht was more than just a friend to me; he was like my big brother. He mentored my career from being his hairdresser, to his chauffeur to becoming a lawyer and his partner on the Sunset Strip, where we shared some of the best times of our lives. He was even instrumental in finding my house in the Hollywood Hills, so that I would be located close to his office and home.” Robert Russo, Attorney
“I was introduced to Peter Knecht back in the mid ‘60’s by a lady friend who was one of his many admirers. He was a true gentleman with a great attitude about everything. Peter and I became close friends, gave a lot of parties, and hung out at such iconic venues as Cyrano’s Restaurant on the Sunset Strip and the Luau in Beverly Hills. He greatly enjoyed making his living doing what he liked – practicing criminal law. When I met him, he had just become the District Attorney for the City of Beverly Hills and had designs on starting his own law practice in the near future. He did exactly that and the rest is history. Many of Peter’s first defense clients were people he had earlier prosecuted, which resulted in their convictions. But even in so doing, Peter’s style in the courtroom earned their admiration resulting in their desire to have him represent them as defendants whenever the need would arise. In the law profession in Los Angeles, Peter was a legend in his own time. I was fortunate to have had him as a close friend for many decades, until he passed away. It was an honor for me to have been asked by his wife Ava to deliver Peter’s eulogy at his funeral.” Richard Somers, President, Mariners Outreach Foundation, Peter Knect’s Client, Close Friend and Eulogist at his Funeral
About DR. AVA CADELL
Dr. Ava Cadell is the widow of the late, renowned Criminal Defense Attorney Peter Knecht. With a Doctorate in Human Behavior & Sexuality, Dr. Ava is the author of 12 books. She is a global speaker who has lectured all over the U.S, Europe, Asia, Australia, and Africa, where she shares her mission: “I believe that the essence of life lies in empowering people to learn how to give and receive love, fostering deeper connections and a more compassionate world.”
As a Media Therapist, Dr. Ava has been featured as an expert on numerous prestigious TV shows, including Good Morning America, The Doctors, Dr. Drew, Anderson Cooper 360, Geraldo Rivera Reports, and LA Shrinks. Her insights and expertise have made her a trusted voice in media discussions on relationships, love, and human behavior.
In 2007, Dr. Ava founded the online university, www.loveuniv.com where she mentors students and certifies them as Love and Relationship Coaches. In 2022, Dr. Ava fulfilled her long-held dream of opening a spiritual retreat with a Buddhist Temple that she purchased from monks: www.loveologyretreat.com
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