Defense Rests In Keefe D Trial; Closing Arguments Set For Monday

The defense rested its case Thursday in the murder trial of Duane “Keefe D” Davis, the man accused of orchestrating the 1996 killing of rap icon Tupac Shakur.

After calling just three witnesses, Davis’ legal team concluded their presentation without putting their client on the stand.

Davis’ attorney, Michael Sanft, told the judge, when asked, if the defense was resting its case. The judge then confirmed that the presentation of evidence in the case was officially closed.

The trial now moves toward its final phase. Jury instructions will be settled Friday morning at 9 A.M., with closing arguments scheduled to begin Monday at 9 A.M. in the Las Vegas courtroom.

The judge issued strict instructions to jurors during the recess.

“Please during the recess you’re admonished not to talk or converse amongst yourselves or with anyone else on any subject connected to the trial or read, watch or listen to any report of our commentary on the trial of any person connected to this case by any medium of information including without limitation newspaper television internet and radio or form express any opinion on any subject connected with the trial till it is submitted to you,” the judge stated.

Prosecutors had rested their case Wednesday after calling 25 witnesses over a week and a half of testimony.

They alleged that Davis orchestrated the shooting in retaliation for a casino brawl hours earlier involving Shakur and Davis’ nephew, Orlando “Baby Lane” Anderson.

The prosecution presented hours of recorded interviews and jail calls in which Davis discussed the incident.

The defense strategy focused on challenging the lack of physical evidence directly linking Davis to the shooting.

Sanft emphasized during jury selection that prosecutors were not arguing Davis pulled the trigger himself, but rather that he orchestrated the attack.

Shakur was shot multiple times in Las Vegas on September 7, 1996, and died six days later. The driver of the BMW, Marion “Suge” Knight, survived the attack.

For nearly 30 years, the case remained unsolved until Davis’ arrest in 2023.

With both sides having rested, the jury will now hear closing arguments from prosecutors and the defense before deliberating on whether Davis is guilty of murder with a deadly weapon and criminal gang allegations under Nevada law.