A Nevada judge has delayed the murder trial of Duane “Keffe D” Davis, the sole suspect charged in the 1996 murder of rapper Tupac Shakur, pushing the trial back to February 9, 2026. The postponement was deemed necessary to allow adequate preparation time for the defence, as new information presented by his attorneys necessitated further investigation and witness interviews to ensure a fair trial.
Davis, who has maintained his not guilty plea, is accused of orchestrating Shakur’s murder during a drive-by shooting while Shakur was in a BMW on September 7, 1996. At a brief court hearing, Judge Carli Kierny acknowledged that significant work remains to properly prepare the case.
Davis’ legal team contends that essential investigative tasks are incomplete and asserts that witnesses exist who could corroborate his absence at the crime scene. Furthermore, they argue that prior statements from Davis regarding his involvement were made for entertainment and financial motivations, not as an admission of guilt. The prosecution, on the other hand, claims to possess strong evidence against him and disputes any prior immunity agreements Davis alleges.
Additionally, the defence plans to consult medical experts to explore alternative explanations for Shakur’s death, as there are suggestions that he was stable after the shooting before suddenly deteriorating in hospital.