Duane "Keffe D" Davis, the man accused of orchestrating the 1996 murder of rap legend Tupac Shakur, is set to stand trial in Las Vegas. Jury selection begins Monday at Clark County District Court, with the trial expected to last about a month.
The Charges and Background
Davis, 63, faces one charge of murder with a deadly weapon, with the intent to promote, further, or assist a criminal gang. He was the leader of the South Side Compton Crips at the time of the shooting. He was arrested in 2023 and has pleaded not guilty.
Tupac, also known as 2Pac and Makaveli, was gunned down on September 7, 1996, while riding in a black BMW with music mogul Marion 'Suge' Knight. A white Cadillac pulled up alongside, and gunshots were fired. Tupac, in the passenger seat, was hit multiple times and died six days later. Knight survived.
The Trial Proceedings
Judge Carli Kierny will preside over the case. Jury selection is expected to take a few days, followed by opening statements and witness testimony. Public seating will be limited, with a daily lottery for courtroom seats. A live feed will be shown in a second-floor room.
The prosecution will not argue that Davis pulled the trigger, nor is the trial likely to confirm the shooter. Instead, they plan to prove Davis made the call that led to Tupac's death and provided the gun used.
Key Evidence and Witnesses
In his memoir, Compton Street Legends, Davis described obtaining a handgun from an associate and throwing it into the back seat of the Cadillac, but did not name the shooter. His nephew, Orlando 'Baby Lane' Anderson, was a suspect but never charged and died in 1998.
Between 35 and 45 witnesses are expected, including former Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman and members of Tupac's family. Leonard Jefferson, who took the last known photo of Tupac, and Denvonta Lee, a Crips affiliate, are also on the list. Lee testified that Anderson didn't have a clear shot, so Deandrae 'Freaky' Smith took the gun and fired, with Davis giving the gun to Anderson.
Other witnesses include Malcolm Greenidge, a friend of Tupac's, and Reggie Wright, a former Death Row security member. New witnesses may include a former Death Row security team member and a former Mob Piru member. Former police officers and gang experts are also expected.
Davis' defence attorney, Michael Sanft, may call fewer than a handful of witnesses, including an expert on false confessions and coercive interrogation techniques.
Potential High-Profile Testimony
Prosecutors have requested several out-of-state witnesses, one of whom is in prison in California. Suge Knight, serving a 28-year sentence for a separate killing, has said he will not testify. As the only other living eyewitness, his testimony could be pivotal, but Sanft told The Associated Press that Knight would be a good witness for the defence if he did testify.
Fans speculate whether Sean 'Diddy' Combs will testify. Combs is serving a four-year sentence on prostitution-related charges. In his memoir, Davis claimed Diddy wanted Knight and Tupac dead, but Diddy has denied any involvement. The Mirror has approached Diddy's spokespeople for comment.
