Duane ‘Keefe D’ Davis pleads not guilty in Tupac Shakur murder nearly 30 years after icon’s slaying
KEEFE D, a self-confessed Compton gangster, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Tupac Shakur at his arraignment on Thursday morning – despite boasting many times of his role in the killing of the rap icon.
The accused killer, whose real name is Duane Davis, made his official plea for the first time in front of Las Vegas District Court Judge Tara Jones.
Davis, 60, will go on trial for one count of murder with the use of a deadly weapon with a gang enhancement.
The suspect was provided with a public defender after failing to reach a deal with famed Las Vegas attorney Ross Goodman, who represented him in the delayed arraignment two weeks ago.
Goodman attended the hearing beforehand, spending 10 minutes with Davis while he waited in a holding area before the judge began the daily proceedings.
The hearing began without Davis in the courtroom.
He was led separately, in handcuffs and leg shackles, into the courtroom 14 minutes after 17 other defendants in front of a packed public gallery of the courtroom.
Davis, dressed in a blue Clark County Detention Center jumpsuit, acted nervously during the six-minute hearing.
The accused killer, who looked slimmer in his face than a month ago, answered the judge.
Justice Jones asked Davis: “Have you been able to retain counsel?”
Davis nervously shifted around and replied: “No, ma’am.”
The judge then asked the public defenders’ team to choose who would represent him.
Public defenders Robert Arroyo and Charles Cano stood beside Davis and confirmed they would be his counsel.
Davis interrupted the judge when she explained that Nevada state was not pushing for the death penalty if he is found guilty.
He then added he understood the decision.
During the hearing, the judge asked Davis if he had an education.
He mumbled: “I did a year of college. UCLA.”
He denied being under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
The bald-headed criminal, who has a grey beard, stood alone behind the plaintiff’s desk, nervously swaying.
He turned at one moment to smile and give a thumbs-up to someone in the gallery.
Judge Jones moved the case to a different department to move the trial process forward.
The murder trial will take place in 2024, likely taking several weeks.
Before arraignment ended, Davis told the judge: “I plan on getting Mr Goodman back on board.”
Judge Jones confirmed he could make that decision as the case proceeded.
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