The trial of Duane Davis, accused of orchestrating the murder of Tupac Shakur, opened with prosecutors claiming he admitted his role in a secret interview with federal agents. Davis, 63, is on trial in Las Vegas for murder with a deadly weapon with the intent to promote, further or assist a criminal gang. He has denied the allegations.
Prosecution's Opening Statements
In opening statements, prosecutor Binu Palal said Davis was the 'on-site commander' and handed the gun to his nephew Orlando Anderson to shoot Tupac. Palal claimed that in a secret interview, Davis 'admits to his role in the shooting' after denying it to the FBI. The interview was part of a federal taskforce investigating the murder of Christopher Wallace, known as the Notorious B.I.G.
According to the prosecution, Davis claimed to have no information on Biggie but said he could 'tell you about Tupac'. Palal stated: 'He tells a federal taskforce about his involvement which you've heard is orchestration of the murder of Tupac Shakur.'
Evidence Presented in Court
Jurors were shown diagrams of alleged gang links, CCTV footage of the MGM Grand fight, and a sketch of the white Cadillac and its four occupants. The court heard how in 2017, Davis 'went public' with a recording of an interview in which he admits to being in the white Cadillac and being part of the murder.
Davis published a book, Compton Street Legend, in 2019, in which the prosecution says he was 'angry' about the beating of his nephew. Defence attorney Michael Sanft argued that police work on the case had been 'biased, sloppy and incomplete'.
