Defense attorney Carl Arnold vehemently denied the credibility of his client Duane “Keffe D” Davis’s account of the 1996 killing of hip-hop icon Tupac Shakur in Las Vegas, asserting that it is a fabrication concocted for monetary gain. Arnold vehemently denounced his client’s claims as nothing more than an attempt to profit from his association with the high-profile case.
According to Arnold, Davis has provided conflicting accounts of the incident, leaving significant doubt about his reliability as a witness. Arnold highlighted the inconsistencies between Davis’s statements made to police and media outlets since 2008, including his self-incriminating 2019 memoir, and his current denials.
Prosecutor Binu Palal refrained from immediate comment outside the courtroom, while Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson maintains confidence in the strength of the evidence against Davis, emphasizing that the jury will ultimately determine the credibility of Davis’s narratives.
Arnold alleged that Davis’s motive for embellishing his involvement in the fatal shooting stemmed from his desire to capitalize on the notoriety of the case. Arnold maintains that Davis sought financial gain by exaggerating or outright fabricating his role in the crime.
The defense attorney further challenged the prosecution’s case, pointing to the absence of concrete evidence placing Davis in Las Vegas at the time of the killing. Arnold emphasized that the prosecution lacks the murder weapon and the vehicle used in the shooting, key pieces of evidence that could corroborate Davis’s alleged involvement.
Davis, currently held on $750,000 bail, has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder charges and faces the possibility of life imprisonment if convicted. Arnold has indicated that Davis will not take the stand at trial, but he intends to call Suge Knight, who was wounded in the shooting, as a witness.
The defense strategy hinges on casting doubt on the prosecution’s case by highlighting the absence of physical evidence and inconsistencies in Davis’s accounts. The trial is scheduled to commence on November 4, and the jury will be tasked with determining the validity of Davis’s claims and the strength of the evidence against him.
