Nairobi, October 14- Former gang leader Duane “Keffe D” Davis has been sentenced to at least 40 years in prison for orchestrating the 1996 murder of American rapper Tupac Shakur.
Davis, 63, was convicted in September of first-degree murder with a deadly weapon over the drive-by shooting in Las Vegas on September 7, 1996. He has maintained that he will appeal the verdict.
Prosecutors argued that although Davis did not fire the fatal shots, he organised the group responsible for the killing. In his memoir, he admitted to supplying the gun used in the crime.
During the sentencing hearing, Shakur’s sister, Sekyiwa Shakur, told the court that her brother’s death had deeply affected their family. She urged the judge to impose the maximum sentence, saying the rapper had hoped to make a positive impact on his community.
Shakur’s brother, Maurice Shakur, also asked the court to hand Davis the longest possible prison term.
Judge Carli Kierny told Davis that he could not take another person’s life and deprive their family of a future without facing consequences. She added that Shakur’s death had left a lasting impact on the world.
When given an opportunity to speak, Davis said he intended to appeal the case.
The prosecution relied heavily on Davis’ public statements about his presence inside the white Cadillac from which the shots were fired. He had also discussed his involvement during a secret police interview in 2008 connected to the investigation into the murder of fellow rapper Christopher Wallace, popularly known as The Notorious B.I.G.
Davis’ conviction marked a major development in a case that remained unresolved for nearly three decades and attracted sustained attention from hip-hop fans worldwide.
