Jury selection is underway as the murder trial for Sean Combs' former rap protege G. Dep begins in New York.
The hip-hop star, real name Trevell Coleman, turned himself in to police in December, 2010 and confessed to the 1993 shooting of 17-year-old John Henkel during a botched robbery in East Harlem.
The Special Delivery hitmaker previously claimed he felt compelled to come forward after learning that Henkel had died from his gunshot wounds, and he was subsequently charged with second-degree murder.
Coleman's lawyer unsuccessfully appealed to prosecutors to reduce the charge to manslaughter, but the request was denied in September (11).
Although he acknowledged his actions led to Henkel's death, Coleman pleaded not guilty to the count in January (12). His legal representative claims his client was likely under the influence of drugs when he made the confession to cops.
Court proceedings in preparation for the trial began on Monday (09Apr12).
If convicted, Coleman, who has since kicked his addiction to hallucinogenic substance phencyclidine (Pcp), faces 25 years to life in prison.