Duane “Keffe D” Davis claims he is an innocent man following his first-degree murder conviction for the 1996 killing of rapper Tupac Shakur.
In his first interview since the verdict, Davis told The Hollywood Reporter that prosecutors and law enforcement witnesses lied during the trial. A Las Vegas jury deliberated for three hours earlier this week before returning a guilty verdict, a decision celebrated by Shakur’s family in court.
Davis remains in jail, where his defense attorney plans to file an appeal.
During the trial, prosecutors presented Davis’ memoir, Compton Street Legend, and past comments from a Vlad.TV interview as evidence. Davis denied writing the book and claimed he never reviewed its contents before publication.
“I never wrote that book. The author told me to tell them 10 stories about what happened in your life and get them some pictures,” Davis said. “I never read that book or went over that book or nothing. They didn’t even spell my name right on the cover.”
Regarding the interview, Davis stated he participated for financial reasons, believing a proffer agreement protected his statements.
“I was just there making the money. I was broke and the US attorney [Timothy] Searight had said that I was protected [via the proffer]. And Reggie Wright Jr. [former Death Row security chief] told me to go on and get my money. So I did,” Davis said.
Davis also alleged that law enforcement officers and FBI agents gave dishonest testimony about his character.
“Man, they lied about me so much. I don’t even know where to begin. All those cops in there was lying like a motherfucker. The prosecutors were lying about me,” Davis said. “I’m a good man, man. I’m a good person. I’m not no fucking killer.”
Davis did not take the stand to testify in his own defense during the trial. He explained that his lawyer advised against it to protect his chances of a future appeal.
His defense strategy for the appeal relies on a federal deal that Davis claims should take precedence over his state conviction in Nevada. Despite the strategy, Davis expressed doubts about the likelihood of success.
He also addressed the presence of Shakur’s family at the trial.
“I ain’t got nothing to say to them. I didn’t like the way they was looking at me – like they was ready to beat me up. And I didn’t like the way the prosecutors kept bringing them in the back room where the jury was. That felt biased to me,” Davis said.
“I’m innocent, man. They got an innocent man sitting in jail,” Davis added. “I’ve got two grandsons that are going to the pros in football. They All-Americans — one of them is in high school. He has 25 scholarship offers, and the other one is in college. And when they get their millions, they’re coming to get me out of here.”
