Everything You Missed in the Tupac Shakur Murder Trial Before Closing Arguments
After nearly three decades of questions surrounding Tupac Shakur’s 1996 murder, the trial of Duane “Keffe D” Davis moved rapidly toward its conclusion this week.
Jurors heard more testimony about Davis’ past statements, listened to recordings prosecutors say connect him to the shooting and heard from former law enforcement officials who offered a complicated picture of the investigation, according to reports. By Thursday, both sides had rested their cases, setting the stage for closing arguments.
Here are five of the biggest moments from the week.
Prosecutors Rest on Davis’ Alleged ‘Lies’
The prosecution wrapped its case Wednesday after calling more than two dozen witnesses during the trial. At the center of the case were Davis’ own statements over the years, including interviews in which he described being inside the white Cadillac.
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Prosecutors argue Davis helped orchestrate the attack after a confrontation involving his nephew, Orlando “Baby Lane” Anderson, and Shakur earlier that night.
Law Enforcement Testifies for Defense
Former Las Vegas police detective Dan Long delivered one of the week’s most significant moments when he acknowledged that he could not independently verify key portions of Davis’ account, according to Reuters.
Long testified that he believed Davis when he interviewed him in 2009, but conceded that he was unable to confirm that Davis was actually in the Cadillac or that his account of the shooting was accurate.
The testimony could bolster the defense’s argument that Davis’ decades-old statements were exaggerated stories rather than reliable confessions.
Davis Chose Not to Testify
After days of speculation over whether Davis would take the stand, the 63-year-old defendant ultimately did not testify in his own defense, according to KLAS.
His attorneys instead focused on challenging the reliability of his previous statements and highlighting the lack of physical evidence directly tying him to the shooting.
The Defense Called Witnesses
Davis’ defense lasted only a day, according to Rolling Stone. Attorneys called three former Las Vegas police officers, including Long, before resting their case Thursday.
The abbreviated presentation underscored the defense’s strategy: rather than attempting to provide an alternative account of the killing, attorneys sought to create doubt about the prosecution’s reliance on Davis’ own words.
Closing Arguments Are Next
With both sides finished presenting evidence, the case is now headed toward its final stage. Closing arguments are scheduled for Monday, according to KLAS, after which jurors are expected to begin deliberations.
Davis is charged with murder in connection with Shakur’s killing, even though prosecutors have not accused him of being the gunman. Under Nevada law, a person can face a murder charge for helping facilitate or orchestrate a killing.
Nearly 30 years after Shakur was fatally shot in Las Vegas, jurors will now have to decide whether the evidence presented in court is enough to hold Davis responsible for the rapper’s death.
