Jurors Begin Deliberating at Tupac Shakur Murder Trial

A Las Vegas jury is deliberating in the murder trial of Duane "Keffe D" Davis, after prosecutors built their case almost entirely on Davis' own historical statements about the 1996 killing of Tupac Shakur. Davis, now 63, faces life in prison if found guilty. Instead of physical evidence, prosecutors argued that Davis' admissions across various interviews, documentaries, and his 2019 memoir serve as a confession that supplements missing evidence.

They highlighted his repeated mention of obtaining the Glock, sitting in the front seat of a Cadillac, and giving the "green light" after a fight at the MGM Grand involving his nephew Orlando Anderson.

The defense countered that these statements were fabricated for profit and notoriety. They questioned Davis' timeline, including his claim that he saw Shakur waving from a BMW window - a detail that contradicted witness testimony. They also pointed out inconsistencies, such as Davis' statement that he saw Shakur the day before the shooting at the MGM, which was contradicted by Malcolm Greenidge, who testified Shakur arrived in Las Vegas the day of the Tyson bout.

Davis' 2008 federal proffer was a key piece of evidence for prosecutors. Under pressure to provide truthful details in a narcotics case, Davis allegedly corrected investigators when they got facts wrong. This, prosecutors argued, showed Davis was being truthful, striving to avoid prison while being careful not to incriminate himself.

Gang expert testimony framed the murder as a retaliation hit. Testimony from James "Mob James" McDonald emphasized that the beating of Orlando Anderson at the MGM required immediate violent revenge, according to 1990s Compton gang culture. However, defense witnesses, including retired LVMPD homicide detective Brent Becker, cast doubt on some of these gang-related incidents, citing missing documentation and potential departmental corruption.

They also pointed out that no physical evidence, such as receipts or surveillance footage, placed Davis in Las Vegas on the night of the shooting.

Sanft dismantled Davis' narrative by questioning details such as Shakur allegedly waving from a BMW window, a claim that witnesses did not corroborate. He highlighted the lack of physical evidence linking Davis to Las Vegas on the night of the shooting, including the absence of a Cadillac or the murder weapon. Sanft also raised concerns about the integrity of the investigation, noting that key files were allegedly mishandled, and questioned the Cadillac's presence at Suge Knight’s gated community before the shooting.

The prolonged nature of the case, with several witnesses having passed away and key evidence missing, added complexity to the deliberations. Jurors were reminded they were examining a case from nearly three decades ago, where much of the evidence has been lost or is unavailable.