Jury hears closing arguments in Tupac Shakur murder trial

A jury has heard closing arguments in the trial of Duane "Keffe D" Davis, a 63-year-old former leader of the South Side Compton Crips gang. He is accused of ordering the murder of rapper Tupac Shakur, which occurred on September 7, 1996. According to the South China Morning Post, the alleged motive was retaliation for the beating of Davis' nephew by members of Shakur's entourage in Las Vegas.

Davis has pleaded not guilty to a single count of murder using a deadly weapon in Clark County, Nevada. The prosecution's case, as reported by the Daily Maverick, relies heavily on Davis' own statements in media appearances, a memoir, and secret meetings with investigators. Prosecutors argue that Davis' story is generally consistent and that he has essentially admitted to arranging Shakur's killing.

Davis' lawyer, as quoted by the Daily Maverick, has countered that his client's words were mere bravado and cannot be corroborated, and that there is no hard evidence to support Davis' claims or prove his presence in Las Vegas at the time of the murder.

Brief written by urgent.news from Punch Nigeria, Punch, South China Morning Post, Winnipeg Free Press, Daily Maverick — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.