Mr. Shakur was convicted on February 15, 1989 of murdering two drug dealers in Brooklyn. There was no physical evidence connecting Mr. Shakur to the murders. The prosecution’s case was based on the testimony of one eyewitness, Harley Young. The only other corroborating evidence was a statement attributed to Mr. Shakur, which was fabricated by the disgraced former detective, Louis Scarcella.
In recent years, two individuals who were present at the time of the murders have come forward to exonerate Mr. Shakur. One witness has stated that she was with Mr. Young at the time of the shooting and knows that he could not have seen it. Another witness has stated that he witnessed the murder of one of the victims and knows that the shooter was not Mr. Shakur. An additional witness has come forward to say that he heard about the murders at the time they occurred, and was informed that a violent Jamaican posse known as “the Renkers” was actually responsible for this crime. On June 19, 2013, the Hon. Desmond Green granted an actual innocence hearing in this case. Judge Green also so-ordered a subpoena duces tecum ordering the prosecution to turn over certain files undergoing review by the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office that may support Mr. Shakur’s claims related to the misconduct of former detective Louis Scarcella. The hearing will take place once this review is complete.