Today is day two of the trial of Duane ‘Keffe D’ Davis, accused of orchestrating the murder of rapper Tupac Shakur in Las Vegas in 1996.
Today we are expected to hear continued testimony from prosecution witnesses, including police, witnesses and possibly family members.
On Monday, both sides laid out their cases: Prosecutors said Davis’ own statements are proof of their accusations, while the defense argue that none of those statements were verified or made as part of the investigation.
After the opening statements, one woman who said she heard the gunshots spoke from the stand, followed by several former officers from both the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and the Los Angeles Police Department who spoke about their investigations.
That statement contradicts previous comments from Davis in which he said he was sitting in the front passenger seat of the car, which pulled up side-by-side with Shakur’s, before the September 1996 shooting near the Las Vegas Strip. Marion “Suge” Knight, the then-head of Death Row Records, was driving the car with Shakur sitting in the passenger seat.
Davis said he granted interviews and admitted involvement in the murder in a book to make money.
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Noting that during this portion where pics of the body of Tupac Shakur were shown, most family members of Tupac Shakur left the courtroom.
Jury question: were there any wounds to head? No. Jury question: were all bullets same caliber? She doesn’t know,
Cross examination from attorney Michael Sanft: Was anything missing in records? Gavin: No… She then notes: “we only took a few photos of his body at the time…”
Pic of projectile recovered from autopsy. Affidavit from Shakur’s mother indicating he was her son. Cause of death: gunshot wounds of chest and abdomen. Homicide.
Doctors did surgery and removed another projectile. Pic of right flank. Wound does not penetrate to body, possibly from projectile that hit something else, then hit body. Shakur had scars suggestive of previous gunshot wounds. Back of right hand: gunshot wound on ring finger.
Bullet entered right side of chest, went across right lung. Projectile recovered. This wound collapsed lung & caused lung to bleed. Removed lung to try to save him. Bleeding out in area from injury. Entrance gunshot wound in right thigh. Went up to abdomen, damaged intestines.
Shown: Pic of toe tag for Tupac Shakur. Graphic pic of the body of Tupac Shakur. Photos show evidence of medical intervention – meaning doctors tried to save his life. Facial pic. Another pic of his body. THUG LIFE tattoo on his stomach. Gunshot wound, right side of chest.
WITNESS Dr. Lisa Gavin: forensic pathologist medical examiner in Clark County. Practicing here for 30 years. Was in medical school in 1996. Reviewed case file, autopsy report for Tupac Shakur, etc.. Medical examiner who did autopsy died. Gavin is giving her expert opinion.
WITNESS Thomas Kern: works for Customs & Border Protection now. Worked as crime scene analyst for Las Vegas Metro police in 1996. Was present at autopsy of Tupac Shakur. Looked at photos to confirm they are legit. No cross examination.
Court resumes with the rest of the Monday’s recording of an interview Davis had with Fred Miller following the murder of Biggie Smalls.
S: 8 NEWS VEGAS
