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Tupac Shakur's killer makes nine-word statement as he receives 40 year sentence for murder
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Duane ‘Keffe D’ Davis gave a brief statement after being sentenced for his role in the murder of Tupac Shakur.
One of the music world’s highest-profile cases of the past 50 years has seen a conviction today, but the conclusion remains in the distance.
Duane ‘Keffe D’ David made a defiant statement in court
63-year-old Davis made a defiant statement as his 40-year sentence was handed down, following a jury finding him guilty of one count of murder back in September.
That count refers to the murder of rap superstar Tupac Shakur, who was shot dead during a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas in September 1996.
The case took 30 full years to resolve, and looks set to continue even longer.
Prosecutors had argued that while Davis did not fire the bullet that killed Shakur, he was at the head of the group that committed his murder and had admitted that he gave the gun that fired that round.
Evidence in the trial focused on Davis’ own memoir, as well as admissions he made to law enforcement during another case regarding the death of Christopher Wallace, better known as Notorious B.I.G.
When his sentence was read to him, the judge enquired if Davis had any response.
He said: "I'm good. I'm gonna appeal this case for sure.”
Before that, Judge Carli Kierny had told him: "You don't get to take a man from his family.
"You don't get to take his very life, his whole future from him, and just walk away from it. "Especially when that man is Tupac Shakur. The world never forgot about him and his death.”
Tupac Shakur’s brother and sister said their own words
Addressing the court, Tupac’s sister Sekyiwa Shakur said: "The loss of Tupac, for a long time, crippled my family."
"He had so much promise, intentions for a better world.”
His brother Maurice added that he wanted to see Davis receive ‘the longest possible sentence’.
The evidence that convicted Tupac Shakur killing ringleader
Davis’ own words were used against him in the court of law, as he repeatedly said that he was in the car that the shots were fired from.
He also admitted in 2008 to police that he had been involved during the investigation into Biggie’s murder months after that of Shakur.
In his own memoir Compton Street Legend, he spoke again about his involvement, although that voided the protective agreement he had with the police to avoid future criminal charges.
At the time of his death, Shakur was just 25 years old and had the music world at his feet.
Prosecutors made the case that while Davis had not fired the shot that killed him, as a South Side Comptom Crips leader, he ordered the shooting and gave the gun to his nephew Orlando Anderson, who carried out the killing.
Anderson died in a shooting himself in 1998, having previously denied involvement.