Judge allows Tupac Shakur murder suspect’s book to be used as evidence in Las Vegas trial
A judge has allowed the Tupac Shakur murder suspect’s book to be used as evidence during the upcoming trial.
Duane ‘Keefe D’ Davis released his memoir, Compton Street Legend, in 2009, which included an account of the events leading up to Tupac’s death in 1996.
Last week, he attempted to exclude his past confessions from the book, but a judge has since denied him.
According to Courthouse News, the judge ruled that he cannot suppress the statements at a hearing in Nevada’s Eighth Judicial District on June 30th.
Clark County Chief Deputy District Attorney Marc DiGiacomo stated, “Had Mr Davis never opened his mouth, had he never decided to take money and go on BET and talk about this situation, had he decided to never write the book, he would not probably have ever been prosecuted for the crime.”
He continued, “But once he decides to write that book in 2019 and describe this situation, we are entitled to prove up what he’s saying is true, including what he says about the facts.”
Keefe is accused of orchestrating the murder and was charged with one count of murder with the use of a deadly weapon and the intent to promote, further, or assist a criminal gang. The trial is set to begin on August 10th.
His lawyer, Michael Sanft, claimed that his comments were made to sell copies of the book. “You don’t raise your hand to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth when you do your promotion,” he said.
He added, “To me, the problem with the analysis is, on some levels, we’re putting way too much credence and value and weight on statements that are made for entertainment purposes only – not a confession to a priest, not a confession to a police officer, but rather to promote a book, to sell a product.”