Jury Finds Duane “Keffe D” Guilty Over Tupac Shakur’s Murder In 1996

NEWSDAILYNIGERIA: A Las Vegas jury on Monday found former gang leader Duane “Keffe D” Davis guilty of orchestrating the 1996 murder of legendary hip-hop artist Tupac Shakur.

The 63-year-old Davis was convicted of murder with the use of a deadly weapon following nine days of testimony. He faces a possible life sentence.

Jurors took less than three hours to reach the verdict in a case that remained unsolved for nearly three decades.

Shakur was shot in a drive-by attack on September 7, 1996, in Las Vegas and died in hospital six days later at the age of 25.

The award-winning rapper, actor and activist sold more than 75 million records worldwide, with many of his albums and songs released posthumously.

Davis, a former leader of the South Side Compton Crips gang, is the only person ever charged in connection with Shakur’s killing.

During closing arguments, Clark County Chief Deputy District Attorney Binu Palal told jurors that Davis obtained a gun and “went hunting” for Shakur and Death Row Records co-founder Marion “Suge” Knight.

According to prosecutors, the attack followed a fight earlier that night in which Shakur, Knight and their associates allegedly assaulted Davis’ nephew.

Palal argued that although Davis’ accounts of the killing changed over the years, he consistently placed himself inside the white Cadillac from which the shots were fired.

Davis is the only surviving member of the four men prosecutors say were inside the Cadillac during the shooting. The man prosecutors said initially supplied the gun to Davis is also dead.

Police had long suspected Davis of involvement in the murder but lacked sufficient evidence to charge him.

The case gained momentum after Davis publicly discussed his alleged role in media interviews and a memoir. Prosecutors also relied on recordings of secret meetings between Davis and investigators.

Davis, who pleaded not guilty to the single murder charge, told the judge he planned to appeal the conviction.

(Culled from DW)