LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — A trial started Wednesday on prices related to a jail battle involving the person accused of orchestrating the homicide of Tupac Shakur.
Duane “Keffe D” Davis, 61, who faces a homicide cost in Shakur’s dying, has publicly stated he was sitting within the entrance passenger seat of the automotive concerned within the 1996 homicide close to the Las Vegas Strip. Final December, Davis was concerned in a battle contained in the Clark County Detention Middle with one other inmate, video confirmed.
Prosecutors later charged Davis with battery by a prisoner and difficult an individual to a battle. They must show the battle with Rochlon Hamilton, 53, one other inmate in custody on a homicide cost, was not self-defense.
Clark County District Court docket Choose Nadia Krall seated a jury Tuesday of six males and eight ladies.
Earlier this yr, Davis pleaded not responsible to prices related to the battle and invoked his proper to a speedy trial, which started Wednesday morning. The trial on the homicide cost was not anticipated to begin till 2026.
Video the 8 Information Now Investigators obtained reveals the 2 males rolling on the bottom in a jail day room for about 30 seconds earlier than officers separate them.
In opening statements, Chief Deputy District Legal professional Marc DiGiacomo performed video of the battle and defined to the jury what Davis then stated in jail telephone calls.
“I wore his [expletive] out,” DiGiacomo instructed the jury about what Davis stated to a different individual in a jail name. “I’m happy with myself.”
FILE – Duane “Keffe D” Davis seems in courtroom for a listening to on a movement to dismiss prices for his involvement within the 1996 killing of rapper Tupac Shakur, Jan. 21, 2025, in Las Vegas. (Ethan Miller/Pool Photograph through AP, File)
“At the end of this case, we are going to ask you by your verdict to tell Mr. Davis that what he did was unlawful,” DiGiacomo stated.
Davis’ legal professional, Carl Arnold, instructed the jury Davis was the sufferer and was “attacked.”
“You will see that my client notices Mr. Hamilton,” Arnold stated. “Mr. Hamilton came and moved quite a distance to Mr. Davis… who at this time doesn’t have his hands up. This guy is poised and ready to strike. The officer is totally unaware what was going on.”
Patrick Grey, the LVMPD corrections officer who investigated the battle, testified about what he discovered and the way the jail works. Grey stated Davis and Hamilton’s cells had been two cells aside.
A special view of the battle as offered by legal professional Carl Arnold. (KLAS)
“They are housed in their cells and they exercise, take showers, and have free time alone in their cells as well,” Grey stated concerning the unit the place the jail housed Davis and Hamilton. “[Davis and Hamilton] had this ongoing battle between the doors.”
Each inmates instructed one another “What’s up?” earlier than the battle started, DiGiacomo stated. Grey testified that two inmates saying “What’s up?” to one another was a approach to entice a battle.
Throughout cross-examination, Arnold argued Hamilton’s physique language implied he was the aggressor.
“I don’t know what his intentions were, sir,” Grey stated as Arnold confirmed video from the seconds earlier than the battle started. “It looks like his foot is going forward, but it doesn’t look like he’s getting ready to run or anything.”
Grey didn’t converse with LVMPD Officer Ari Keim, who was escorting Davis into the unit on the time of the battle, Grey testified. As an alternative, he relied on Keim’s written report, including that the video had no audio and he couldn’t affirm what the inmates stated to one another earlier than the altercation. Arnold’s questions then targeted on jail insurance policies and why Davis was escorted into the room if one other inmate was already in there.
“There was not a breach of security; it’s not a violation of policy,” Grey stated, including there was no approach Davis and Hamilton would have recognized they’d have crossed paths that day.
Prosecutors subsequent referred to as Keim to the stand. He defined his duties and stated he heard the 2 males say “What’s up” to one another earlier than the battle started.
Keim couldn’t say which man hit whom first.
“I would describe them both standing in an assaultive position,” Keim stated.
The state’s subsequent witness, retired LVMPD Detective Clifford Mogg, labored on Metro’s case towards Davis involving Shakur’s dying. After Mogg’s retirement, the Clark County District Legal professional’s Workplace employed Mogg as a contractor to work on Davis’ homicide case. Mogg has since listened to recorded calls Davis makes from jail.
Prosecutors then performed 5 calls Davis constructed from jail, together with one the place Davis tells his son he acquired right into a battle and “bodyslammed” a “little dude.” In keeping with Mogg, Davis tells his son that he “won” the battle and was ready to “stomp” on Hamilton.
“I told him every time he sees me he has to get a lump,” Davis stated in a single name about Hamilton, in accordance with Mogg.
“I [expletive] up,” Davis stated in one other automotive, referencing a dialog he had with a California legal professional. “I got his [expletive]. I let him know you can’t [expletive] with me, little man.”
In one other name, Davis seems to reference the 8 Information Now Investigators’ reporting of video of the battle, telling his son he would “beat” the case,” Mogg stated.
Following the three witnesses, each prosecutors and the protection rested their case.
Nevada statute requires a attainable jail sentence of 1-20 years, plus an extra yr in jail, ought to the jury convict Davis. Davis has remained in custody since his arrest in September 2023.
Hamilton was attributable to go on trial on related prices in October.
8 Information Now’s the one native TV station contained in the courtroom. This story can be up to date.
