Ex-gang leader’s account of Tupac Shakur killing is fiction, defence says

23 April 2024, 22:24

Tupac Investigation Las Vegas
Tupac Investigation Las Vegas. Picture: PA

Duane ‘Keffe D’ Davis’s trial is scheduled for November 4.

The defence lawyer representing a former Los Angeles gang leader accused of killing hip-hop music star Tupac Shakur in 1996 in Las Vegas has said his client’s accounts of the killing are fiction and prosecutors lack key evidence to obtain a murder conviction.

“He himself is giving different stories,” lawyer Carl Arnold told reporters outside a courtroom following a brief status check with his client, Duane “Keffe D” Davis, in front of a Nevada judge. His trial is scheduled for November 4.

“We haven’t seen more than just his word,” Mr Arnold said of Davis’s police and media interviews since 2008 in which prosecutors say he incriminated himself in Shakur’s killing — including Davis’s 2019 tell-all memoir of life leading a street gang in Compton, California.

Prosecutor Binu Palal did not immediately comment outside court about Mr Arnold’s statements. Clark County district attorney Steve Wolfson has said evidence against Davis is strong and it will be up to a jury to decide the credibility of Davis’s accounts.

Tupac Investigation Las Vegas
Rapper Tupac Shakur died in 1996 in Las Vegas (Frank Wiese/AP)

Mr Arnold said his client wanted to make money with his story, so he embellished or outright lied about his involvement in the car-to-car shooting that killed Shakur and wounded rap music mogul Marion “Suge” Knight at a traffic signal near the Las Vegas Strip in September 1996.

Knight, now 59, is serving 28 years in a California prison for killing a Compton businessman with a vehicle in 2015. He was not called by prosecutors to give evidence before the grand jury that indicted Davis last year.

Mr Arnold said Davis will not give evidence at trial, but he intends to call Knight to testify. The defence lawyer said police and prosecutors lack proof that Davis was in Las Vegas at the time of Shakur’s killing, and do not have the gun and car used during the shooting as evidence.

“We’ve seen video of everybody else here. Where’s video of him?” Mr Arnold said of Davis. “There’s just nothing saying that he was here.”

Davis has been jailed on 750,000-dollar (£600,000) bail since his arrest in September. Mr Arnold said on Tuesday that Davis has been unable to raise the 10% needed to obtain a bond to be released to house arrest.

Davis, 60, is originally from Compton. Police, prosecutors and Davis say he is the only person still alive who was in the car from which shots were fired.

Davis pleaded not guilty in November to first-degree murder. If convicted, he could spend the rest of his life in prison.

In his book, Davis wrote that he was promised immunity from prosecution when he told authorities in Los Angeles what he knew about the fatal shootings of Shakur and rival rapper Christopher Wallace six months later in Los Angeles. Wallace was known as The Notorious B.I.G. or Biggie Smalls.

Shakur had five number one albums, was nominated for six Grammy Awards and was inducted in 2017 into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. He received a posthumous star last year on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

By Press Association

Latest World News

See more Latest World News

Exclusive
Speaking to LBC’s Nick Ferrari, Sir Peter Wall warned Vladimir Putin will “not come to the party” on the terms currently being put forward for a ceasefire in Ukraine.

Ukraine ceasefire is ‘not at all close’ and could take 'years,’ former chief of British army tells LBC

The US 'hunting' influencer fled Australia following backlash over video of her snatching baby wombat from its mother

US influencer flees Australia following backlash over video of her snatching baby wombat from its mother

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during a joint news conference with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko following their talks at the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, March 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Peace deal on Putin's terms: Russian leader sets out conditions as Zelenskyy says Russia 'wants to drag war out'

American Airlines jet bursts into flames at Denver Airport as terrified passengers forced to escape onto wing

American Airlines jet bursts into flames at Denver Airport as terrified passengers forced to escape onto wing

Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the White House

'US will annex Greenland', says Trump as he warns Nato 'might have to get involved' in takeover

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

'Very manipulative': Zelenskyy slams Putin's peace deal comments as he says Russia 'wants to drag war out'

Trump has praised Putin's 'promising' remarks over the peace deal with Ukraine

Trump praises 'promising' Putin remarks over peace deal with Ukraine as he calls for Russia to 'do right thing'

Exclusive
Russian President Vladimir Putin

Putin's peace terms are for NATO to stop arming Ukraine and an end to mass mobilisation, ex-Kremlin adviser says

Vladimir Putin

Putin says he 'agrees with ceasefire proposals' but warns 'lots of questions' remain about Ukraine deal

The world is waiting for Putin's response to a proposed ceasefire

Putin’s ‘secret plan’ for fate of Ukraine revealed in classified Kremlin files - as US team heads to Moscow for talks

Estonian President Alar Karis (R) meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Estonia's President tells LBC he backs all European countries introducing conscription

Russian President Vladimir Putin accompanied by Russian Chief of General Staff Gen.

Putin dons military fatigues for frontline visit - as Trump threatens to destroy Russian economy in bid for peace deal

Exclusive
Putin is likely to sign a peace deal, a White House official has said

Putin 'will agree to Ukraine deal because of heavy losses', US official says as Trump warns of 'devastating' punishment

Soldiers secure Mach railway station after Pakistani security forces freed some passengers

Train hijackers 'murder 50 passengers' before Pakistan military kill all insurgents and rescue 300

Thomas Cooper, 5, died on the scene.

Boy, 5, ‘incinerated’ in oxygen chamber while undergoing alternative treatment for ADHD

The Prince of Wales will visit British troops on the Nato frontline

Prince William to visit British troops on Nato frontline in Estonia