Ex-gang leader denied bail before Tupac Shakur murder trial
Bail denied over suspicious funds in Tupac Shakur murder trial
A judge in Las Vegas refused to release an ailing former Los Angeles gang leader ahead of his murder trial in the 1996 killing of hip-hop star Tupac Shakur. On Tuesday, Clark District Court Judge Carli Kierny expressed suspicions of a cover-up regarding the source of funds for the bond of Duane “Keffe D” Davis.
Davis’ attorney had promised additional records to prove that the music record executive underwriting Davis’ $750,000 bail had obtained the money legally. However, Kierny remained skeptical after receiving two identical letters from an entertainment company that purportedly wired the funds to Cash “Wack 100” Jones.
One letter was signed with a name unconnected to the company, and the other featured a misspelled name and a return address linked to a doctor’s office. Kierny noted, “I have a sense that things are trying to be covered up.”
The hearing shifted when Davis’ lawyer, Carl Arnold, revealed that the bail bond agent had provided the entertainment company with copy-and-paste instructions for the letters and could testify about their authenticity. In response, prosecutor Binu Palal suggested the bond dealer might have committed a felony by submitting “a false document to this court” and emphasised the state would investigate the matter.
Davis, arrested in September 2023, is the only person ever charged in one of hip-hop’s most enduring mysteries. He has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder. Judge Kierny also delayed the start of Davis’ trial from November 4 to March 17.
Previously, Kierny denied Davis’ request to have Jones post $112,500 for his house arrest, citing concerns that the pair might profit from selling Davis’ life story. Nevada’s “slayer statute” prevents convicted killers from profiting from their crimes.
Jones, who has managed artists like Johnathan “Blueface” Porter and Jayceon “The Game” Taylor, testified in June that he wanted to help Davis due to his battle with cancer, recognising him as a significant figure in their community, especially the urban community.
Davis has claimed in interviews and his 2019 memoir that he is the only living suspect in the fatal drive-by shooting of Shakur nearly 28 years ago near the Las Vegas Strip. Authorities assert that the shooting was linked to competition between East Coast Bloods and West Coast Crips for dominance in the “gangsta rap” genre.
What Other Media Are Saying
- TheNigeriaLawyer reports that a US judge denied bail to a man accused of killing Tupac Shakur, citing suspicions of a cover-up related to the bond funds. (read more)
- SFGATE reports that a judge refuses to free a man charged in Tupac’s killing, suspecting a cover-up of bond funds. (read more)
- The Seattle Times reports that a judge has again rejected the request to free an ailing former Los Angeles-area gang leader accused of killing hip-hop star Tupac Shakur. (read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
Why was the former gang leader’s bail request denied?
The judge suspected a cover-up related to the source of the bond funds.
What mistake was found in the letters provided for the bail?
One letter had a misspelled name and a return address linked to a doctor’s office.
When is Duane ‘Keffe D’ Davis’ trial now scheduled to start?
The trial is scheduled to start on March 17.
Why did the prosecutor say the bond dealer might have committed a felony?
The bond dealer submitted a potentially false document to the court.
What is Nevada’s ‘slayer statute’ mentioned in the article?
It prohibits convicted killers from profiting from their crimes.
