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.”
LIVE UPDATES
Dorsey says he doesn’t know how much Davis was paid for Death Row Chronicles interviews.
Dorsey says three former police detectives told him that Davis was a high-level drug trafficker. Sanft: do you have any physical evidence to show Davis was in Vegas the night of the fight? Dorsey: No
Dorsey: Can you please drop badgering me, man? Judge steps in.
Sanft: Wait until I’m done with my question. Dorsey asks him to stop saying that and says they’re having a normal conversation. Wow. What is unfolding in this courtroom…
Sanft asks Dorsey more questions about Death Row, Tupac, etc. Dorsey says Sanft is referring to conspiracy theories & says he wonders if he has evidence. Judge steps in *****finally***** to tell him he can’t do that. Dorsey continues to interrupt Sanft as he asks questions.
Sanft asks Dorsey if they looked into relationship btwn Tupac & Suge Knight. Dorsey describes conflicting accounts about their relationship.
Sanft: Asks Dorsey about the book he said he developed research from, points out several editions. Dorsey says Kading didn’t give him the 2009 recording. Dorsey seems calmer than he did before the break. Sanft asks if he’s aware of the lawsuit filed by Tupac estate against Death Row.
Attorneys argue about questions the defense can ask Dorsey outside the presence of the jury.
Dorsey is basically saying he can speak to law enforcement issues because of his experience as a “true crime producer.”
At one point, Dorsey tells Sanft “Don’t shake your head.” There has been back & forth. The judge did not step in. This is to the point where a juror shook his head, laughed, and clapped.
Dorsey: Any citizen can investigate a crime if they want to. Would send Las Vegas Metro police links to interviews that Davis was doing. Dorsey says he had “unfettered access to the case file.”
Sanft: How did you believe you could record the audio from an interview with Davis? Dorsey claims he didn’t need permission…even though he was an independent contractor. Dorsey: Never in a million years did I think it would play in court.
Sanft points out documentaries are a business. Dorsey: Kading turned over LAPD case files. After Death Row Chronicles airs, Dorsey contacts LVMPD. Speaks with Detective Mogg. Emailed Metro back & forth about 100 xs. Tells Metro they should look at it for new info in murder case.
Cross exam by Sanft. Are you a detective at @LVMPD?
No.
Dorsey says he came across an article in 2012 about Murder Rap book by Greg Kading, reached out to him & he was interested. Points to independent research and working w/ Kading. Sanft shows books, asks Dorsey if he read them.
Prosecutor asks Dorsey about his information gathering. Defense attorney Michael Sanft objects several times. Sanft just pulled out a big pile of books, placed it on table by Davis.
Davis referred to prison in late 80s as “gladiator school,” Dorsey testifies.
Prosecutor Marc DiGiacomo continues to ask Mike Dorsey questions. Interviews for Death Row Chronicles took place in 2017. ‘Compton Street Legend’ Book published in 2019. Kindle version with court redactions admitted to evidence, meaning the jury will have access to it.
Davis says Orlando Anderson would never have bragged about it.
Diaz is pressing him about who pulled the trigger. Davis says he wants to stick to the “code of the streets.” Diaz: “They’re both dead.”
Diaz asks if he wants to apologize to Tupac’s family.
Also talks about threats…
Davis again says how some celebs like Justin Bieber, Soulja Boy, Bow Wow are doing it backwards….
Davis says Reggie Wright Sr., Compton PD captain, sped up to his home the next day & threatened him. “Everybody was against us,” Davis says Suge Knight was in w/ Compton PD & other PD. “He was protected by the mayor, city council…” Says he paid them off. Cops had very nice cars.
Diaz asks if Suge Knight knew they shot at him. Davis says he doesn’t know but a newspaper article mentioned “Keffe D’s nephew.” Davis said he did groundwork for his record company. “He just had the music industry and I had the streets.” Davis claims Tupac shot at them.
Diaz asks about Greg Kading.
Davis is also saying he doesn’t know who pulled the trigger.
Audio continues after lunch break. Davis admits to being in the vehicle involved in drive-by shooting. This version is different from others he’s told. He said they had the white Cadillac painted. I don’t recall hearing that in previous version.
More from Davis on Combs being scared.
Davis says he didn’t need the money.
Davis alleging Combs asked him to take care of the “big guy.”
More from Davis saying Combs was scared of Suge.
Davis talks about connection with Sean Combs.
Audio from 2nd interview for Death Row Chronicles. Davis re: Suge Knight. Early years. Also re: Death Row.
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
