Mac Minister Set to Go on Trial for Murder

The murder trial of Bay Area rapper Mac Minister, whose real name is Andrew Dow, is set to get underway on September 11th in Las Vegas. Dow, who made national headlines when he was featured as a fugitive on America's Most Wanted, stands accused of the double homicide of Kansas City, Missouri rappers Anthony "Fat Tone" Watkins and Jermaine "Cowboy" Akins in May of 2005. Police have speculated that Watkins and Akins were slain in retaliation for the killing of Bay Area fixture Mac Dre in November of 2004. At the time of Dre's murder, it was widely speculated that Watkins was behind the crime, although no evidence to support that theory has materialized. Watkins and Akins were found shot to death shortly after attending a Snoop Dogg concert in Las Vegas on May 23rd, 2005. About 80 minutes before they were murdered, witnesses said they saw them leaving their hotel with Dow. Watkins' mother has said that her son and Akins were told by Dow that he had arranged a meeting with Snoop Dogg to discuss a possible record deal. Dow is currently incarcerated in a Las Vegas jail and has maintained his innocence.