The trial for Duane “Keffe D” Davis, a former Los Angeles-area gang leader accused of involvement in the killing of hip-hop music icon Tupac Shakur in Las Vegas in 1996, has been delayed until November, a judge announced on Tuesday.
Clark County District Court Judge Carli Kierny cited the need for additional time for Davis’ new attorney, Carl Arnold, to familiarize himself with the case and for prosecutors to provide evidentiary material to the defense. Originally scheduled for June 3, the trial will now commence on November 4.
Davis, who has been in jail on $750,000 bail since his arrest in September, expressed his intention to raise the necessary 10% for a bond to be released to house arrest. However, he stated that individuals willing to assist him with posting bail were reluctant to appear in court for a “source hearing” to verify that the funds were legally obtained.
The delay in the trial comes amid heightened media attention surrounding the case, with Davis lamenting that his family members are hesitant to support him due to concerns about the media circus surrounding the proceedings.
Now 60 years old and originally from Compton, California, Davis is the only surviving individual who was present in a car from which shots were fired in September 1996, resulting in Shakur’s death and injuries to rap mogul Marion “Suge” Knight in another vehicle near the Las Vegas Strip. Knight, currently serving a prison sentence in California for an unrelated shooting, was also involved in the incident.
Davis’ hiring of private attorney Carl Arnold ahead of the trial signifies a significant development in the case, as he opted to dismiss court-appointed lawyers and secure independent representation.
As anticipation mounts for the trial’s proceedings, the postponement underscores the complexity and significance of the legal battle surrounding one of the most infamous incidents in music history. Stay tuned for further updates as the trial date approaches and the legal saga continues to unfold.
