Murder trial begins for the 1996 killing of Tupac Shakur

Duane “Keffe D” Davis, a 63-year-old former street gang leader, has gone on trial in Clark County, Nevada, for the 1996 murder of iconic hip-hop artist Tupac Shakur. Prosecutors allege that Davis orchestrated the drive-by shooting near the Las Vegas Strip as retribution for a physical altercation involving his nephew. Davis has pleaded not guilty to the single count of murder with the use of a deadly weapon.

During opening statements, prosecutor Binu Palal informed jurors that the case against Davis relies in part on his own public admissions, which investigators used to revive the long-dormant murder case. The state contends that Davis ensured his associates were armed and prepared to execute the attack on the 25-year-old rapper. In response, defense attorney Michael Sandt argued that the prosecution lacks sufficient concrete evidence after three decades, questioning the reliability of the state's case.

This trial marks a significant development in one of music history's most infamous cold cases. While the legal proceedings are currently underway in a downtown Las Vegas courthouse, the defense maintains that the evidence remains sparse, setting the stage for a contentious courtroom battle regarding Davis's alleged role in the orchestration of the shooting.