sws4420
06-21-2005, 06:16 PM
http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/050621/050621_notorious_hmed_2p.hmedium.jpg
LOS ANGELES - One of the murkiest rapper murders of the 1990s finally got to court Tuesday, eight years after a series of shootings and assaults widely attributed to a turf war between East and West Coast rap record labels.
Tight security, including metal detectors and guards, marked the beginning of jury selection in federal court in Los Angeles in a wrongful death lawsuit filed against the city of Los Angeles by the family of Notorious B.I.G. The family says a rogue police officer played a role in the rapper’s death.
Notorious B.I.G., born Christopher Wallace, was shot to death in March 1997 after attending a music industry party in Los Angeles. No one has been charged with his slaying, which came six months after Tupac Shakur -- the era’s other leading rap artist -- was shot and killed in Las Vegas.
Shakur’s murder has also gone unsolved but the two killings have spawned books, movies and conspiracy theories involving gang rivalry and music industry feuding.
The civil lawsuit filed by B.I.G’s family is based on a theory promoted by ex-Los Angeles police officer Russell Poole. Poole wrote a book claiming a rogue LAPD officer planned the killing on behalf of Death Row records label owner Marion ”Suge” Knight, and arranged for a friend to carry it out.
Perry Anderson, lawyer for B.I.G’s mother and widow, told potential jurors Tuesday the case was circumstantial and was not directed at any individual.
But he said it would show Los Angeles police “allowed cops to be involved in criminal activity” and “to associate with gangsters.”
The city of Los Angeles, represented by Vincent Marella, said family members were trying to collect money from the city despite a thorough investigation by police and the FBI that resulted in no criminal charges against anyone.
The case is expected to take about a month.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8306397/
LOS ANGELES - One of the murkiest rapper murders of the 1990s finally got to court Tuesday, eight years after a series of shootings and assaults widely attributed to a turf war between East and West Coast rap record labels.
Tight security, including metal detectors and guards, marked the beginning of jury selection in federal court in Los Angeles in a wrongful death lawsuit filed against the city of Los Angeles by the family of Notorious B.I.G. The family says a rogue police officer played a role in the rapper’s death.
Notorious B.I.G., born Christopher Wallace, was shot to death in March 1997 after attending a music industry party in Los Angeles. No one has been charged with his slaying, which came six months after Tupac Shakur -- the era’s other leading rap artist -- was shot and killed in Las Vegas.
Shakur’s murder has also gone unsolved but the two killings have spawned books, movies and conspiracy theories involving gang rivalry and music industry feuding.
The civil lawsuit filed by B.I.G’s family is based on a theory promoted by ex-Los Angeles police officer Russell Poole. Poole wrote a book claiming a rogue LAPD officer planned the killing on behalf of Death Row records label owner Marion ”Suge” Knight, and arranged for a friend to carry it out.
Perry Anderson, lawyer for B.I.G’s mother and widow, told potential jurors Tuesday the case was circumstantial and was not directed at any individual.
But he said it would show Los Angeles police “allowed cops to be involved in criminal activity” and “to associate with gangsters.”
The city of Los Angeles, represented by Vincent Marella, said family members were trying to collect money from the city despite a thorough investigation by police and the FBI that resulted in no criminal charges against anyone.
The case is expected to take about a month.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8306397/