Duane “Keffe D” Davis’ appeal in the Tupac Shakur murder case has been accepted by the Nevada Supreme Court, following the death of his attorney.
According to court records reviewed by XXL, the Nevada Supreme Court in Las Vegas has officially accepted Keffe D’s appeal. His notice of appeal was originally submitted by his lawyer, Michael Sanft, on Oct. 30, before the court clerk formally filed the case on Monday (Nov. 9).
However, Keffe D is now without legal representation following the death of Michael Sanft, who passed away last week at his Las Vegas residence. The circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear, and police are still investigating.
It remains uncertain how the appeal will proceed following Sanft’s passing. Court documents show that the Nevada Supreme Court has given Davis two weeks to submit a transcript request form, three weeks to file a docketing statement, and 120 days to submit his opening brief.
In October, Keffe D, 63, was sentenced to 40 years to life in prison after being convicted of first-degree murder in connection with Tupac Shakur’s 1996 death.
Immediately after the verdict, the former gang member told the judge he intended to appeal the conviction and also requested the return of items seized during the investigation.
“I’d like to have all my stuff back,” Keffe told Judge Carli Kierny, who presided over the trial. “The computers, all of the phones, everything. And I’d like to appeal this matter.”
Prosecutors allege that Keffe supplied the firearm used to kill 2Pac and was present during the September 7, 1996 shooting. The three other men believed to have been involved in the shooting have since died, including Keffe D’s nephew, Orlando Anderson, who was allegedly the gunman and was killed in 1998. Authorities said the shooting was carried out in retaliation for Anderson being assaulted by Tupac and members of Death Row Records following a Mike Tyson fight.
