Today is day six of the trial of Duane ‘Keffe D’ Davis, accused of orchestrating the murder of rapper Tupac Shakur in Las Vegas in 1996.
On Friday, Davis told the judge he had concerns while on trial, adding he believed police and prosecutors were putting his family in danger by releasing the details of his home address and other family members’ addresses. He also told the judge his home was vandalized and broken into, as well as his wife’s car.
Davis’s son was seen in court last week. He told 8 News Now that the family moved and didn’t even give him the address, not wanting it on record in court for their safety.
Other witnesses on Friday included Michael Dorsey, a documentary filmmaker, television producer, and editor, as well as Mario Diaz, who is an executive producer of the documentary “Death Row Chronicles.”
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Diaz tells him they expect to hear details about that night. Second interview was planned so Davis can wear suit. Diaz says he wants to visit the scene with Davis. Audio stops. Brief recess until 11:40 am.
Q: Was there ever a time you felt bad about Tupac? Davis: wish it never happened…Changed my whole f-ing life. Says Tupac should have stayed in his lane. “You’re not a gangster.” Davis talks about celebs who get rich & then join gang. Backward. Real gangsters want to get out.
Davis insists he had nothing to do with the murder of Biggie Smalls. Says Biggie was a friend. Points to police corruption. Says police said he did it to keep the heat off of him. Diaz asks why he agreed to tell his story. “Save my f-ing life…”
Interviewer asks Davis if he is upset about not getting paid. … “I am a kingpin. I was making more money than Puff…”
Diaz asks Davis if Puffy paid him.
Davis keeps saying he doesn’t want to answer some questions, address some topics. *NOTE: not sure why his attorney didn’t stop the interview and speak to him privately.*
Davis talked about police corruption in Compton, how Wright, Sr. affiliated w/ Suge Knight. Davis says he’s waiting for green light about what to discuss. Interviewer, Mario Diaz, asks why Anderson wasn’t charged. Davis says Anderson didn’t brag. “That’s against the code dog.”
Davis expresses that he’s uncomfortable continuing with parts of the interview, didn’t speak with attorney enough beforehand. Refers to how he could get the death penalty. Interviewer skips to aftermath. Davis says how Reggie Wright, Sr., who was police captain, confronted him.
Davis discusses Orlando ‘Baby Lane’ Anderson and how he was loved.
Audio playing. More discussion from Davis in the interview for Death Row Chronicles: Talks about Sean Combs being scared of Suge Knight, making offer…
Observations: One of the jurors has worn a suit everyday. Loved ones of Tupac Shakur continue to fill the front row behind prosecutors. Davis continues to have a cough. Someone tried to bring kids to court to watch and they were turned away. Kids are not allowed.
Judge reviewing instruction that she will read to the jury which tells them to not consider crimes (like shootings) that are unrelated to the murder charge. Jury walked in. Judge reads instruction.
Judge says attorney/client privilege broken since Davis talked to lawyer in front of people & in recording studio. Mentions microphones. Meaning prosecutors can play Dorsey’s audio he secretly recorded.
Dorsey on the stand. Says, “it sounded like…” Other people were in the room. Says at least a good half dozen people in the room, was very small studio, about size of courtroom. Dorsey in an office down the hall. Didn’t have eyes on studio whole time though. He had headphones.
Prosecutor Marc DiGiacomo says there are transcripts for both the BET and Dorsey recordings. He says there is no privileged communication because someone else was in room while Davis was speaking to attorney. Judge will hold evidentiary hearing now with witness Mike Dorsey.
Sanft mentions Mike Dorsey’s testimony. This is the ‘documentarian’ who said he consulted on Death Row Chronicles, then contacted police about admissions made by Davis. Dorsey made “surreptitious” recordings, according to Sanft. Sanft says Davis may have been talking to attorney.
Sanft says he believes jury is hearing info about other crimes like another shooting & drug crimes. Judge points out that she believes it was made clear that Davis had no involvement in Biggie Smalls murder. Judge will now read an instruction to jury. Both sides seem to agree.
Week two and DAY SIX of the Tupac trial begins now. Duane ‘Keffe D’ Davis in court wearing a black suit. Jury not here yet. Defense attorney Michael Sanft expressing that he believes there are problems with evidence that the state presented last week. S: 8 NEWS VEGAS
