GANGSTER Keefe D did not tell his lawyer that he had given a confession about his alleged key role in killing Tupac Shakur to Las Vegas cops in 2009 – in another shocking development in the case.
However his lawyer has hit back – insisting that Duane “Keefe D” Davis’ second taped confession does not bring anything new to the murder trial – and in fact, proves that police officers didn’t have enough proof for a conviction.
GettyIconic rapper Tupac was fatally shot in September 1996[/caption]
APKeefe, pictured in court this week, made a second taped confession to cops about the murder[/caption]
The U.S. SunKeefe’s lawyer, Carl Arnold, admits he wasn’t aware of the existence of the tape[/caption]
Keefe, who appeared in court this week, previously admitted on tape to a Las Vegas Metro Police officer that he and his gang “got to shooting” when they pulled up next to Tupac on the Las Vegas strip in 1996.
The tape contradicts what was said in court this week – as lawyer Carl Arnold argued that Keefe was not even in Las Vegas at the time of the shooting.
The newly discovered recording has not yet been submitted into evidence in the case – but was played on an ABC News special about Tupac.
Evidence custodians confirmed that the tape was not in their department and the Clark County District Attorney had not filed any paperwork into the court proceedings.
Lawyer Arnold dismissed suggestions that this tape was a “bombshell blow” to his client, adding that it was not proof of any crime.
Arnold confirmed that he was unaware of the existence of the tape and interview that Keefe gave to Metro officers in 2009.
However, he said he had received a transcript and audio copy.
Arnold, speaking exclusively, brushed off the significance of the admission.
“Bottom line, I am in the process of preparing a motion to dismiss [this evidence if it is entered into the case], because what information is new?” he told The U.S. Sun.
“They sat on this for all those years and didn’t do anything about it all these years.
“It totally depleted his right to have a fair trial because firstly, everybody is dead. People (who were in the car) who could confirm or deny this are dead.
“Metro waited 15 years since this 2009 interview to prosecute him. I mean, come on.
“From what information I have, there was no agreement [not to prosecute] so why did Metro not arrest him in 2009 when he was sitting there?
“It goes back to what I’ve always said. They knew that they didn’t have enough evidence to convict him, and did not try to prosecute with that information right then. Their evidence is circumstantial.”
CAUGHT OFF GUARD
Police sources said “it came as a shock” to many in the force to learn of the confession tape, given the murder case investigation was effectively “on hold” after no one volunteered to give any information about the Tupac murder from 1996 onward.
“There seems to be pretty huge questions that need asking about why this confession tape has never been made public,” one insider said.
“And obviously, how Keefe was not pulled in for further questioning, arrested, or some significant prosecution was not attempted.”
On clips played on TV, Keefe is heard telling Metro officers about how his nephew Orlando “Baby Lane” Anderson was beaten by Death Row Records boss Suge Knight and Tupac after the Mike Tyson fight at the MGM Grand.
In the tape, Keefe states, “His arm was out of his socket.”
After tracking down Tupac and Suge in a BMW on the strip, Keefe admitted that Anderson was the one to pull out a revolver, saying, “Orlando said, ‘Give it here I’ll shoot’ and he got to shooting.”
It goes back to what I’ve always said. They knew that they didn’t have enough evidence to convict him, and did not try to prosecute with that information right then. Their evidence is circumstantial.”
Carol Arnold
Keefe spoke on how he saw a “bullet go in Suge’s head” while panicked Tupac “jumped up and down trying to get into the back seat.”
The one-time drug dealer also admitted on the tape that he was responsible for hiding the murder weapon after the assassination on September 7, 1996.
It is unknown whether the prosecution will enter the tape into evidence.
The Metro confession was not included in their Grand Jury presentation of evidence in September, while multiple interviews of Keefe confessing to being a shot caller in media were shown.
The release of the tape comes after Keefe had also given a Los Angeles Task Force a description of his role and events surrounding the murder of Tupac during a police interview in 2008.
For that interview, the Compton Crip agreed to a deal, known as a proffer – which allowed him to speak freely without fear of prosecution.
Vegas cops spoke to Keefe months later.
QUESTIONS RAISED
Prosecutors and the DA’s office have yet to explain why such a tape was not used at the Grand Jury hearing or submitted in early evidence in the case against Davis, who is set for a November trial.
Davis maintains a not-guilty plea.
Lawyer Arnold has insisted that the self-confessed Los Angeles gang kingpin has spent years faking his confessions about killing the star for cash.
As part of his defense strategy, Keefe has declared that he gave several media interviews and wrote a memoir about assassinating Tupac purely “for money.”
He will tell a jury he fabricated his role in the 1996 murder to bank tens of thousands of dollars after seeing an ex-LAPD officer make money with his own book.
Arnold says Keefe was influenced by ex-LAPD task force investigator Greg Kading, who after probing Biggie Smalls and Tupac’s deaths, released a book and forged a media career around the killings.
Asked what Davis’ sentiment is about being accused of murder, Arnold said, “There’s no evidence that he was involved.
“He did what Detective Kading did. He put out a book and he made money.
“I mean, even the state’s main investigator that testified at the grand jury said this is all about making money and that’s why he put out the book.”