Former Los Angeles gang leader, Duane “Keffe D” Davis, renewed his effort to be freed from jail to house arrest ahead of his trial in the 1996 killing of Tupac Shakur, as reported by the Associated Press. Davis, who has been held in a Las Vegas jail since his arrest last September, stood in shackles in court and accused police and prosecutors of trashing his family and breaking the law by reviewing material from a former LAPD detective.
Davis’ lawyer, Carl Arnold, faced criticism from the judge, Carli Kierny, who accused him of shaping media attention about the case. Kierny ordered Arnold to provide more documentation about the source of the money being used for Davis’ bail bond, expressing concern that it may be linked to a music executive acting as a front.
Despite the judge’s reservations, Arnold argued that Davis and the music executive, Cash “Wack 100” Jones, were not planning to profit from selling Davis’ life story. Jones testified that he wanted to help Davis, who is fighting cancer, and is a significant figure in the urban community.
Davis, who has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, is the only person charged in the Shakur killing. Authorities believe the shooting was a result of gang rivalry between East Coast Bloods and West Coast Crips. If convicted, Davis could face life in prison.
The judge’s decision on Davis’ bail remains pending, with prosecutors raising concerns that allowing him to be released on bail could undermine his compliance with court orders. Despite the ongoing legal battle, Davis maintains his innocence in one of hip-hop music’s most enduring mysteries.
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