Today is day ten of the trial of Duane ‘Keffe D’ Davis, accused of orchestrating the murder of rapper Tupac Shakur in Las Vegas in 1996.
Closing arguments are set for today.
On Friday, lawyers from both sides and the judge spent about 90 minutes discussing wording that will be used when jurors are given directions for their deliberations in the case.
Neither Davis nor the jurors appeared in the courtroom on Friday.
The defense rested on Thursday after calling three witnesses, all of whom were law enforcement. Two witnesses said they saw a cream-colored cadillac at the home of Suge Knight on the same night of Shakur’s murder.
Davis did not testify. The prosecution rested on Wednesday after 8 days of trial.
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Loved ones of Tupac Shakur are hugging prosecutors.
Prosecutors choosing to dismiss the gang enhancement. Sentencing on October 13 at 10:30am. Holding him with no bail.
Davis: “I would like to appeal this matter.” Says he wants his stuff back.
VERDICT in the trial of Duane ‘Keffe D’ Davis:
GUILTY of 1st degree murder with use of a deadly weapon.
A jury has found Duane ‘Keffe D’ Davis guilty of murder.
After just three hours of deliberation, the jury has reached a verdict.
State concludes. Jury heads to deliberate at 1:54 pm.
DiGiacomo: “Go & read his book if you want. You will not be smarter for it….” “He shouldn’t be out there profiting off a murder in our jurisdiction.” To suggest now that there is no evidence of his guilt.. He literally says I beat the streets, I beat the feds & I beat cancer…
Money due bill at Monte Carlo casino. Says Davis scrapbooked the murder. Refers to Davis as “a guy who is dumb enough to write a book…”
Says it wasn’t modern day Las Vegas which has a ton of cameras…referring to 9/7/96. Davis said Orlando Anderson stayed at Excalibur, receipt shows it. MGM receipt for Corey Edwards at MGM. Says whoever is in Orlando Anderson’s room is staying at the Monte Carlo.
Says Sanft accused Reggie Wright Jr of murder. Are you kidding me that Suge Knight set this up? Says there was car log from vehicles going to Suge Knight’s house.
2026: Corey Edwards spoke to police in 2026 but then disappeared. Talked about efforts to find him to testify.
Sanft finishes. Prosecutor Marc DiGiacomo says police knew the four people in the car by March 1997. Points to jail phone calls after 2023 arrest. Insists the case is not about how police originally handled the case.
Sanft shows quote: “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” -Voltaire
Sanft: if you feel like he did it because he kept saying he did, what facts do you have? “Is repeating a fiction over and over again make it a fact?”
Sanft on spelling of name: Shows jacket found at his home has different spelling of his name from the book, which is ‘Keffe D.’
Sanft on Davis being a shot caller.
Never called shot before or after the shooting. What evidence?
Sanft on Davis being a shotcaller. Never called shot before or after the shooting. What evidence?
Sanft says Wright exposed Tupac Shakur and Suge Knight that night. Sanft shows a slide: “Only one unarmed bodyguard for the most popular rap artist in the world”
Reggie Wright Jr. Sanft points out he’s an ex-Compton cop. Felon. Suge’s right hand man. Job was to provide security for Tupac. Sanft plays Wright testimony discussing ‘Hit em up.’ Security concern. How many ppl guarding Tupac night of the fight? One person. 2nd didn’t show up.
Sanft points out witness testimony from former Las Vegas Metro police officers that said they saw a cream colored Cadillac leaving Suge Knight’s home.
On MOB James: If he’s compulsive on the stand now, how do you think he was 30 yrs ago? Anderson sued Tupac’s estate for injuries in MGM attack. Suge & Death Row Records pays the “shooter?” Sanft again points to no retaliation. Was Tupac even Member of Blood Piru?? No evidence.
Sanft asks why nothing happened to the four guys who were supposedly in vehicle (in retaliation for the murder).
Brown: Killed at dispensary (unrelated)
Smith: Medical complications
Anderson: Approached someone who owed him money for drugs, died from shootout. Crips on Crips.
Sanft: Where are these people?
1) Defective Mogg. (But Mogg is in the courtroom right now. Davis turned around to look at him.)
2) Suge Knight.
3) Foxy Brown.
4) Big Meach of Detroit.
5) Yusuf Jah.
6) Greg Kading, disgraced detective.
Why didn’t they testify?
Sanft: Seems like Davis didn’t know where murder occurred. “He never knew, because he wasn’t there.”
Compton search warrants in 1996/1997. Sanft points to October 2, 1996 search warrant at Compton home of Davis. 1997 search warrant at another place where Davis stayed. Money due bill for Monte Carlo casino: no date, no time, nothing to indicate it has anything to do with murder
Sanft: Book is fiction, not fact.
Was Davis, Smith, or Brown even in Las Vegas on 9/7/96? We know Orlando Anderson was here. Who else? What proof do you have beyond a reasonable doubt? Is Davis on video at MGM? Paperwork/receipts? Phone records? Photographs? Ticket stub?
Sanft plays video from Davis interview where he’s asked about Zip giving him gun… Bc they didn’t have guns… Davis: “who said that?” Interviewer (Vlad): “it’s in the book” Sanft asks if it sounds like a man who wrote the book…
Sanft: Davis’ statements all conflict with each other, the book, and the facts. On Davis saying Zip gave him gun…Sanft says if you’re a gangster, do you need someone to hand you a gun the way he claims it happened in his book..?
Sanft: Even FBI couldn’t confirm the Lakewood Mall incident actually happened. Sanft on Davis saying women were excited to see Tupac, yelled his name. One witness said it didn’t happen. Another witness who was in a car with her girlfriends said they weren’t yelling out his name.
Sanft playing various clips from previous testimony, including when he points out that Cathy Scott first edition of book published in 1997.
Sanft: just because we say something, is it true? Refers to Lakewood Mall incident.
Sanft: What proof that it actually happened?
Sanft says Wayne Higgins, previous attorney, did not have the best interest of Duane Davis in mind. Sanft points to unethical behavior of law enforcement.
Davis is back. Jury back. Defense closing argument. Michael Sanft.
Sanft: Why are we even here 30 years later if Duane Davis truly confessed?
Sanft: Becker & Long (former LVMPD) are missing officer reports. The integrity of Metro’s investigation was compromised.
Sanft: Davis is not feeling well. He’s been coughing and clearing his throat a lot.
Defense attorney Michael Sanft closing argument to begin after 10-minute recess.
Palal: Davis is the shot caller and is liable for the murder.
He is responsible, he is the one giving approval, in his words, he is the one giving the ultimate green light.
Malice: revenge.
1st degree vs. 2nd degree murder.
Davis got the gun. Happened 2 & 1/2 hours later.
Palal says OJ Simpson wrote a book, ‘If I Did It…’
But Davis wrote a book saying he did it.
Palal plays video clip from interview where Davis holds up ‘Compton Street Legend’ book.
He highlights parts.
Palal discusses 2017 interview for Death Row Chronicles.
Palal now discussing 2009 interview with a Las Vegas Metro police detective.
LAPD detective there, along with Wayne Higgins, attorney for Davis at the time.
Higgins tells him to be careful about what he says…
Not to catch murder case from LVMPD.
Davis: “he gave me the gun.”
Palal plays audio from 2008 proffer admission.
****Palal says the detail about the women following in Sebring was not publicly available.****
Palal plays testimony of MOB James. Has referred to his testimony quite a bit in his closing argument. Palal says what he said is pretty damning for Davis. Talks about the gang war. Shows jury a list of points before he gets to admissions from Davis.
Palal: Suge Knight said he didn’t see anything.
Points to statement from Tupac Shakur to police officer in the ambulance:
“We’ll take care of it.”
Palal says it shows it was not a stranger. Common sense: I know what this is about.
Duane Davis said car of ladies followed them after the shooting (when he admitted to it).
Witness who was in car with her girlfriends said they ended up following a white Cadillac but not on purpose, just to get away.
Palal mentions lack of cooperation from Suge Knight.
Palal discusses Lakewood Mall fight.
Says Orlando Anderson stayed at one hotel. Older guys stayed at Monte Carlo.
Refers to the MGM fight.
Sean Combs appears in a slide. Palal talks about security for him.
Palal says he still thinks there is corroboration which he’ll get to later.
Palal: direct vs. circumstantial evidence.
Palal calls confessions by Davis direct evidence.
Palal points to evidence (aside from statements by Davis).
Shows slides to demonstrate relationships.
Goal here: you don’t have to pretend your common sense doesn’t exist.
Opening statement: defense attorney Michael Sanft said you need to corroborate statements by Davis.
Palal says that’s not true.
Sanft asks to approach. Lawyers from both sides are at bench speaking with judge.
Judge finishes reading all 52 parts of the instructions.
State begins its closing argument.
Clark County Chief Deputy District Attorney Binu Palal: Davis went hunting for Mr. Shakur…
Says case is about gang retaliation after the fight with Orlando Anderson who had status…
Judge reading jury instructions.
CLOSING STATEMENTS in the Tupac Shakur murder trial.
Duane ‘Keffe D’ Davis just walked in wearing a black suit.
Clifford Mogg is here to watch.
Prosecutor Marc DiGiacomo said ‘California Love’ is in his head.
Jury walking in now. S: 8 NEWS VEGAS
