Jury hears closing arguments in Tupac Shakur murder trial

Closing arguments are set to commence on Monday in a high-profile trial involving Duane "Keffe D" Davis, who is accused of orchestrating the murder of rapper Tupac Shakur in Las Vegas nearly three decades ago. The 63-year-old former leader of the South Side Compton Crips faces a single count of murder with a deadly weapon, intended to further a criminal gang's interests.

Over the course of the trial, 24 prosecution witnesses testified, followed by three defense witnesses, over a span of nine days. Initially, prosecutors intended to call between 35 and 45 witnesses, but the case was concluded earlier than expected. Prosecutors argue that Davis orchestrated the attack based on his own statements, while his defense attorney maintains that the prosecution's narrative is fictitious and lacks supporting evidence.

The alleged murder took place on September 7, 1996, when Shakur, a prominent hip-hop artist, was shot outside a Las Vegas intersection. Shakur succumbed to his injuries six days later. Davis claimed to have been in the white Cadillac that fired the shots and provided the weapon to others in the backseat, as a means of retaliation against a prior assault on his nephew by members of Shakur's entourage.

The state relies on Davis' statements, interviews, and co-authored book "Compton Street Legend" as evidence of his involvement in the crime. However, Davis has provided varying accounts of the event, and his defense team argues that his words were merely an attempt to gain financial gain, rather than a truthful account of events.

The trial has drawn significant attention from hip-hop fans and true crime enthusiasts alike. The case has been ongoing for decades, and its age has impacted the evidence presented in court. Despite this, prosecutors presented surveillance footage from the MGM Grand, showing Shakur walking through the casino floor, along with a fight between Shakur's entourage and Davis' nephew.