Today is day 9 of the trial of Duane ‘Keffe D’ Davis, accused of orchestrating the murder of rapper Tupac Shakur in Las Vegas in 1996.
The trial leaves off after the prosecution rested ahead of schedule on Wednesday. It’s unclear who exactly the defense will call to testify or what the order of witnesses will be.
It is also unknown whether or not Davis will take the stand in his defense.
“At this particular point, I think that’s a question I can’t answer because it’s attorney-client privilege. But as of right now, he is contemplating that decision,” Davis’s attorney Michael Sanft told 8 News Now on Wednesday afternoon.
If Davis does decide to take the stand in his own defense, prosecutors can bring up his conviction for a jail fight, which he claims is not his fault. Davis expressed that in court on Wednesday.
Day 8 began with clips from Davis’s interviews before his arrest, where he made admissions to being involved in the murder of rap icon Shakur.
Prosecutors also played video from the trial where Davis appears to mouth something to Reggie Wright Jr., the former head of security for Death Row Records, who testified for the state. Prosecutors also played audio from jailhouse phone calls.
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Attorneys work on jury instructions tomorrow at 9 am. Davis will not be in the courtroom for this. He had the choice and declined. Closing 9 am Monday.
Q: Were you able to verify if Davis was in a white Cadillac on the night of the murder?
A: talks about how Davis said it.
Davis will NOT take the stand.
Closing arguments Monday.
Juror question: When your Lt. said too many ppl were going into Tupac file, what did he mean?
A: Officers were going to look and read.
Q: Were you able to interview ppl in a white or cream colored Cadillac?
A: No
Q: Did you interview Suge Knight?
A: He tried. Knight wouldn’t.
Long says police received a lot of tips that they could not verify.
Long says DA’s office told him to stand down. Long: “There was plenty of probable cause to arrest for murder.”
Says he wasn’t able to verify any info Davis said in his interview with him.
Sanft: Any info to show Davis was in Las Vegas on 9/7/96?
Long: No.
Note: The son of Duane Davis just walked into the courtroom.
When he retired in 2017, he still didn’t know the circumstances of Davis speaking to him in a room.
Long says he was ready to move forward with a murder charge when he returned to Las Vegas. Ran into problems. He was told there might be a proffer in 2008. Made efforts to find out about the agreement from lawyer Wayne Higgins, who would not return calls. U.S. Attorney wouldn’t return calls.
Prosecutor Marc DiGiacomo asks about a 2004 convo w/ Deandre ‘Big Dre’ Smith. Long says Smith told him to F off when he tried to talk to him. Asks about “working off charges.” Long: drug crimes you can work off years by giving info. Cannot for charges w/ victim like sex assault.
Long says he was not aware of the 2008 proffer while he was there. Learned after. He says it made no sense to him.
Long tried to verify some claims from Davis: Couldn’t verify a hospital visit by Orlando Anderson after the MGM fight. Couldn’t verify a white Cadillac rental.
Long asked to leave the room because Davis didn’t feel comfortable with some questions. Says LAPD Detective Daryn Dupree always stayed in room with Davis and his attorney even when Long stepped out.
September 9, 2009 interview with Duane Davis. Was told someone wanted to provide info about the Tupac murder. HIDTA office in LA. Davis got caught with a large amount of narcotics and was trying to drive off the charges.
Drove to LA, picked up a gun that they thought could possibly be the gun used in the murder. Was told it was not the gun. Thousands of guns were tested.
Sanft: Any guns a match?
Long: No.
Lt. said people were looking at the file out of curiosity. Concerned about access to the file within the police department. Essentially – file placed on lockdown. Investigated tips even though it was years later, including looking for a gun. Files lost bc they were not scanned.
Found shooting scene. Left gang unit. Went to homicide in 2000. Investigated the murder of Tupac Shakur. Handed the file in 2004 to work on it. Visited Compton. Homes of Crips. Scene where Orlando Anderson was killed.
Defense 3rd witness: Dan Long.
9/7/96: Las Vegas Metro police detective in gang crimes. On gang enforcement team. Stopped a bunch of juvenile males more than a block east and south. Requested to patrol area bc of incidents. Heard “volley of gunshots.”
Mike Tyson showed up as a passenger in a Bentley. Don King’s son in the vehicle behind them. They told Mike Tyson that the party was no longer happening.
Around 10:10-10:15, BMW leaving with Suge Knight driving and Tupac Shakur in the passenger seat. Wrote officer’s report. They were there at home approx 30 minutes. Followed by a cream-colored Cadillac & other vehicles.
Defense 2nd witness: Charlie Mangrum, overtime officer in charge of other officers to oversee the house on 9/7/96. Pointing out location of Suge Knight’s house on map. HOA wanted police officers there to help keep peace. Traffic going in & out of residence area.
Hyt was there in uniform.
Juror question: Did you notice damage or bullet holes on the white Cadillac or other cars?
A: No
Q: Were any crew members carrying guns?
A: They were in cars.
Q: Did you see a cream-colored Cadillac leave?
A: Yes. They all left. Judge: When? A: Close to 10 p.m
DAY NINE of Tupac Shakur murder trial: Defense 1st witness: Stan Hyt.
On 9/7/96: @LVMPD officer working O/T. He was at Suge Knight’s residence at Sierra Rancho Estates to keep the peace that night. Says he saw a cream-colored Cadillac w/ two men there. Mike Tyson came to the home.
S: 8 NEWS VEGAS
