Audio tapes featuring the man accused of killing Tupac Shakur, allegedly boasting about the rapper’s murder, have surfaced and could become explosive trial evidence.
Duane “Keefe D” Davis spoke about his role in the killing of Tupac in several recorded phone calls behind bars, according to a Las Vegas legal source. The alleged recordings offer a new twist in the trial of Davis, who has pleaded not guilty to his involvement in the rap icon’s killing in September 1996.
Prosecutors allegedly plan to introduce the tapes as evidence in Davis’ trial, set to begin in Las Vegas on August 10, the source said.
The District Attorney’s office believes Keefe admitted to being involved in the crime during a recorded prison phone call, the source added, insisting it was his “First Amendment right” to be able to talk about Tupac.
Davis allegedly mentions his involvement in the murder, along with intricate details about how it happened, while discussing potential film and TV projects related to the case, according to the source.
Davis has publicly denied having any role in the murder since his arrest in 2023. He had previously talked about his involvement in the case in TV interviews and a memoir, and also allegedly confessed to his involvement in two prior confessions made in police interviews.
He now claims those prior admissions were made solely for “fame and fortune” and lacked any legitimacy.
Davis’ lawyer, Michael Sanft, played down the significance of the alleged recordings that could surface at trial.
“Here’s the thing at the end of the day, when the state of Nevada has to rely on that kind of information to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt, they’ve got a huge problem,” Sanft said.
“And I’ve seen the state before; they’ll listen to the phone calls, but it’s sort of like, ‘Nah, we don’t care. We don’t need them,” he continued.
