Convicted Tupac murder defendant Keffe D says he does not fear prison sentence: “They have an innocent man in jail”

Duane “Keffe D” Davis says prison does not frighten him, even after his conviction in the 1996 killing of Tupac Shakur. He continues to insist that he is innocent and says his lawyers can eventually secure his release.

Las Vegas authorities found Davis guilty of first-degree murder on Monday, Aug. 31, over the death of Shakur, who was 25 and at the height of his career when he was killed. Davis, now 63, entered the Clark County Detention Center in Nevada after his arrest and gave his first interview two days later to The Hollywood Reporter.

“

We already filed the appeal, before the trial began, they violated my civil rights!

Journalist and music critic Jeff Weiss spoke with Davis by videoconference rather than in person while visiting the jail. Weiss described Davis as calm, despite facing a possible life sentence for a homicide committed three decades ago. Davis's sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 13.

“

He told me, 'You'll get rich when it's over.'

Davis said he was not afraid of a life sentence because he expected his legal team to win an appeal. "We already filed the appeal, before the trial began, they violated my civil rights!" he told Weiss. He also recalled advice from his former lawyer, Edi Faal, who he said had predicted that the case would end in his favor after only a few years in prison and could bring a substantial payment.

"He told me, 'You'll get rich when it's over,' he said. "He told me I could go to jail for two or three years because of it, it was just a local court matter." Davis also spoke about being the grandfather of two children and said he hoped to regain his freedom. "I'm innocent, man, they have an innocent man in jail, I have two grandchildren who are going to play professional football," he said.

“

I'm innocent, man, they have an innocent man in jail, I have two grandchildren who are going to play professional football.