THE TUPAC CASE GOES TO THE JURY
Nearly 30 years after Tupac Shakur was fatally shot in Las Vegas, the only person charged in connection with the killing is approaching a jury verdict.
Closing arguments in Duane “Keffe D” Davis’ murder trial are scheduled to begin Monday.
Davis has pleaded not guilty. He is presumed innocent unless prosecutors prove the charge beyond a reasonable doubt.
The prosecution’s case
Prosecutors argue that Davis organized a retaliatory attack following the MGM Grand altercation in which Shakur and members of his entourage assaulted Davis’ nephew, Orlando Anderson.
Prosecutors do not accuse Davis of firing the weapon. Under Nevada law, they can pursue murder liability by proving he intentionally aided or directed the killing.
Their case relies heavily on Davis’ statements in police interviews, media appearances and his memoir. He discussed being inside the Cadillac connected to the shooting and described providing the weapon to people seated behind him.
The defense’s answer
The defense argues that Davis embellished those accounts for attention, money and book sales. Retired detective Dan Long testified that investigators could not independently verify Davis’ claimed participation inside the shooting vehicle.
Watch: Defense rests; closings set for Monday
What the jury must decide
The verdict is not a referendum on every theory surrounding Tupac’s death. The jury’s narrower task is to decide whether the admitted evidence proves that Davis legally participated in the charged murder.
The case carries enormous cultural weight, but that weight cannot replace evidence. Closing arguments give each side its final opportunity to organize the record before deliberations begin.
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