Death Row Records co-founder Marion "Suge" Knight is expected to testify in the murder trial of Duane "Keffe D" Davis, a former Crips leader accused of orchestrating the 1996 killing of rapper Tupac Shakur.

Knight, 61, who was inside a car with Shakur when the 25-year-old rapper was fatally shot in Las Vegas on September 7, 1996, is expected to take the stand as the only surviving witness to the murder allegedly orchestrated by Davis. Davis has not been accused of being the gunman.

Knight, who is currently serving a 28-year sentence for killing a businessman in 2015, has previously indicated he would not testify in connection with the case.

Prosecutors are expected to call between 35 and 45 witnesses, including people who saw Shakur moments before he was shot, to former associates of the rapper and Davis, who has pleaded not guilty. Opening statements are expected to begin on Monday.

Several motions tied to the case have been filed for witnesses to testify remotely, including a homicide detective who now lives outside Nevada, FOX5 Vegas reported.

Other potential witnesses include former Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo, members of Shakur's family and author Yusuf Jah, who penned a book with Davis called "Compton Street Legend," according to FOX5.

The 11-page witness list filed by prosecutors cited nearly 200 other witnesses, which may include experts, the station reported. Sean "Diddy" Combs, 56, who is due to be released from prison in 2028 after being convicted on prostitution-related charges, will not testify, attorneys have previously said.

What to Know About Shakur's Murder

Shakur, then 25, had been in Las Vegas to attend a Mike Tyson heavyweight title fight and got into an altercation at the MGM Grand Hotel with Orlando "Baby Lane" Anderson, Davis' nephew, following the bout.

Later that evening, Shakur was riding in a black BMW driven by Knight when a white Cadillac pulled alongside them at a red light near the Las Vegas Strip. Gunfire erupted from the Cadillac, striking Shakur multiple times. Knight survived with minor injuries, but the rapper succumbed to his injuries six days later.

Shakur's death shocked the nation and music industry, instantly becoming one of the most infamous unsolved murders in entertainment history. Investigators have long viewed the MGM Grand brawl as a key event leading up to the shooting.

Who Is Duane Davis?

Davis, a former leader of the South Side Compton Crips, is the only person ever charged in connection with Shakur's killing. Prosecutors allege he orchestrated the retaliatory attack and provided the weapon used in the shooting, describing him as the "shot caller" behind the killing.

A central part of the prosecution's case involves Davis' own public statements, including interviews and his 2019 memoir that details being inside the Cadillac linked to the shooting.

Defense attorneys have argued that parts of those accounts were exaggerated or fictionalized. Davis has remained in custody since his arrest and has repeatedly challenged the prosecution's characterization of his statements during pretrial proceedings.

What to Know About Suge Knight and Death Row Records

As the co-founder and former CEO of Death Row Records, Knight helped launch some of hip-hop's biggest stars, including Tupac Shakur, Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg. At the time of the 1996 shooting, Knight was driving the BMW in which Shakur was shot.

The record executive survived the attack with relatively minor injuries and became one of the last people to see Shakur alive. Investigators interviewed him extensively over the years, but no charges have ever been filed against Knight in connection with Shakur's death. He's currently serving a 28-year prison sentence in an unrelated fatal hit-and-run case.

Why Trial Took 30 Years to Begin

Investigators in the killing had long suspected individuals tied to the South Side Compton Crips, but authorities lacked sufficient admissible evidence to file charges. The probe remained cold until Davis recently gave multiple interviews and published a memoir detailing his alleged involvement.

Las Vegas police later said those statements helped revive the investigation and lead to previously unavailable evidence. Davis, who is the only person still alive who was in the car where prosecutors claim the shots originated, was arrested and later indicted in 2023.

Davis faces up to life in prison if convicted.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated.

Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Samantha Beech and Sam Wilson.