Trial begins in Las Vegas over 1996 murder of Tupac Shakur

The long-awaited trial of Duane "Keffe D" Davis, 63, opened Monday in a Las Vegas courtroom, with prosecutors accusing the former gang leader of orchestrating the 1996 murder of rap star Tupac Shakur. While prosecutors say Davis did not fire the fatal shots himself, they described him as the on-site commander behind the attack.

A jury of six men and ten women was seated last week, and the trial is expected to run for about a month. Davis, who denies the charges, arrived in court in a suit and sat beside his attorney Michael Sanft. Members of Shakur's family, including his stepbrother Maurice "Mopreme" Shakur, were present in the courtroom.

Prosecutor Binu Palal presented jurors with video footage from the night of 7 September 1996, showing Shakur's entourage assaulting Davis's nephew, Orlando "Baby Lane" Anderson, following a Mike Tyson boxing match. According to prosecutors, Davis sought revenge for that beating, a claim they say is supported by Davis's own words in his 2019 memoir and later public statements.

Defense attorney Michael Sandt countered that after three decades, investigators still have scant evidence, urging jurors to weigh whether Davis's account amounts to truth or fabrication. Sandt noted that Davis had spoken to multiple law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, over the years, but that they did not pursue his statements because they doubted his credibility.

Shakur was shot while riding in a vehicle alongside Death Row Records founder Suge Knight when another car pulled alongside and opened fire. He died in hospital days later. The case remained unsolved for decades, fueling numerous conspiracy theories, books and documentaries. Prosecutors have said Davis's memoir effectively revived the investigation, noting he likely would never have faced charges had he not published it. His defense had unsuccessfully sought to keep the book out of the trial, arguing he exaggerated his involvement for personal gain.