LAS VEGAS (AP) — Legal representatives for the individual suspected of being involved in the infamous murder of rap legend Tupac Shakur are seeking a postponement of the forthcoming trial, citing the necessity for additional time to conduct investigative work in order to ensure that Duane “Keffe D” Davis receives a fair trial. The motion, filed on Friday in a Nevada court, sheds light on Davis’ defense strategy, revealing that a private investigator has pinpointed potential witnesses who can provide testimony asserting that he was not present at the scene of the fatal shooting in 1996, nor was he in Las Vegas at the time of the incident. Furthermore, the motion hints at the possibility of another party orchestrating the shooting, with ongoing interviews of prospective witnesses who could shed light on this theory.
The defense team emphasized in a statement that the new revelations and the imperative to interview key witnesses warrant a delay. A hearing has been arranged on Tuesday to discuss the scheduling of the trial, which is currently slated to commence in March. “This case revolves around allegations dating back decades, and with the emergence of each new piece of evidence, it becomes increasingly evident that crucial facts have yet to be fully explored,” remarked attorney Carl Arnold, who is spearheading Davis’ defense.
On the evening of September 7, 1996, Shakur was seated in a BMW driven by Death Row Records founder Marion “Suge” Knight. While waiting at a red light, a white Cadillac pulled up alongside them, culminating in a hail of gunfire. Davis, a former gang leader accused of masterminding Shakur’s assassination near the Las Vegas Strip, has entered a plea of not guilty to first-degree murder and has been incarcerated since his arrest in September 2023.
Having long been identified by investigators as one of the four initial suspects, Davis is the sole individual to face charges. Arnold has contended that Davis should not have been prosecuted due to immunity agreements purportedly reached with federal and local prosecutors during his time in California.
Prosecutors assert that any immunity agreement was conditional and point to compelling evidence against Davis, including his own detailed accounts of the shooting in his memoir, “Compton Street Legend.” While Davis has admitted in various interviews and in his memoir to supplying the firearm used in the drive-by shooting and being present in the vehicle, court documents suggest that his recent descriptions of planning the drive-by shooting were for entertainment purposes and financial gain.
Defense counsel also indicate that they possess witness statements indicating Shakur was in stable condition after the shooting and that his unexpected demise occurred following a week of hospitalization. They are in consultation with medical and forensic experts to explore potential alternative causes of death.
