Closing statements to begin in trial of man accused of orchestrating Tupac Shakur killing

Closing statements are set to commence on Monday in the trial of Duane "Keffe D" Davis, accused of orchestrating the 1996 murder of rapper Tupac Shakur in Las Vegas. Davis, 63, stands charged with a single count of murder with a deadly weapon with the intent to promote, further or assist a criminal gang. The trial, involving 16 jurors and alternates, lasted nine days as prosecutors presented 24 witnesses and defense called three.

The prosecution aims to establish Davis as the mastermind of the attack on Shakur, based on Davis' own admissions. On the other hand, Davis' defense team is likely to argue that the prosecution's narrative is fabricated, lacking evidence to support their claims. Shakur, a revered figure in hip-hop, was shot when a white Cadillac stopped beside him at a red light.

Shakur succumbed to his injuries six days later. The case has garnered significant attention from hip-hop enthusiasts and true crime aficionados. Davis, a self-proclaimed leader of the South Side Compton Crips, claimed he was in the Cadillac and handed the gun to others in the backseat. He linked the shooting to retaliation for an earlier attack on his nephew.

Prosecutors maintain that Davis orchestrated the murder, though they don't claim he pulled the trigger. Davis' own statements and a book he co-authored, "Compton Street Legend," serve as crucial evidence for the prosecution.