Tupac Shakur murder trial begins in Las Vegas

Nearly three decades after Tupac Shakur's murder, a trial has commenced in Las Vegas to determine the fate of the man accused of orchestrating the fatal shooting. The process began Monday with jury selection, with proceedings expected to last about a month.

The 63-year-old suspect, identified as a former gang leader, faces a potential life sentence if convicted of murder with the use of a deadly weapon. He has pleaded not guilty, despite previously admitting in interviews and his autobiography to being in the car from which the shots were fired in 1996. He claimed his nephew fired the fatal bullets and that he is the only surviving occupant of the vehicle.

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He was the only occupant of the car who is still alive.

Investigators have pointed to revenge as the motive. According to reports, Shakur, then 25, was traveling with Death Row Records co-founder Suge Knight when an altercation occurred at a hotel. The suspect's nephew was reportedly beaten by Shakur and Knight. The uncle and nephew were allegedly affiliated with a Southern California gang that was feuding with Knight's associates. The suspect is accused of procuring a weapon and handing it to passengers in the Cadillac to fire at Shakur and Knight.

Shakur, a prominent figure in 1990s rap, was known for songs about rebellion and poverty. His life was marked by legal troubles, including drug involvement and prison time. Despite his death, the artist retains a significant global following.

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Uncle and nephew belonged to a South Californian gang that was feuding with the gang Suge Knight was close to.