Sean “Diddy” Combs has been named on the witness list in the long-running murder case involving the death of American rapper Tupac Shakur, as prosecutors seek to establish links between Combs and Duane “Keffe D” Davis.
Opening arguments have begun in the highly anticipated trial of Davis, who is accused of playing a role in the September 1996 killing of Shakur in Las Vegas.
Davis, 63, faces one count of murder with the use of a deadly weapon, with an allegation that the offence was connected to an effort to promote, further or assist a criminal gang.
Prosecutors allege that Davis helped organise the attack on Shakur following a confrontation involving members of rival groups. They have also alleged that Davis supplied the firearm used in the shooting, although the prosecution does not accuse him of being the gunman who fired the fatal shots.
The case dates back nearly three decades to the night of September 7, 1996, when Shakur attended a Mike Tyson boxing match at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
After the event, Shakur was travelling in a BMW driven by Death Row Records co-founder and then-label boss Marion “Suge” Knight when a white Cadillac reportedly pulled alongside their vehicle. Gunfire was subsequently exchanged, leaving Shakur seriously wounded.
The rapper, who was 25 at the time, died from his injuries six days later.
Davis, a former leader associated with the South Side Compton Crips, remains the only person formally charged in connection with Shakur’s murder.
He has pleaded not guilty to the charge. If convicted, Davis could face a sentence of up to life imprisonment.
The involvement of Sean “Diddy” Combs in the proceedings stems from the prosecution’s efforts to present evidence concerning Davis and the circumstances surrounding the 1996 shooting. Being named on a witness list does not, by itself, mean that Combs will testify or that he has been accused of a crime in connection with Shakur’s death.
The trial is being closely followed because of the enduring public interest in Tupac Shakur’s murder, which remained unsolved for decades before authorities arrested Davis in connection with the case.
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