TUPAC Shakur suspect Keefe D has made a bid for freedom saying he made up claims about the rapper's death for money and that "the only living eyewitness and surviving victim" Suge Knight knows he wasn't responsible for the murder.
Death Row Records boss Suge and Tupac were shot at while driving in Las Vegas 27 years ago, and the iconic rapper died a few days later from his injuries.
Keefe D — real name Duane Davis — was arrested in September after boasting about his role in the assassination in a series of YouTube videos and a book called Compton Street Legend.
In a 33-page bail application obtained by The U.S. Sun, Keefe said he only spoke about Tupac's shooting for entertainment purposes and because he saw others profiting from the case.
He pointed to Suge as the person who could prove his innocence.
Requesting bail to be set at approximately $100,000, his lawyers said in the application: "The most compelling evidence that Duane was not involved in the murder of Shakur comes from the mouth of the surviving victim and only living eyewitness, Marion 'Suge' Knight.
"Knight is currently incarcerated in a California prison. Knight was interviewed over the phone by TMZ after Duane was arrested in this case.
"During the interview, Knight was asked: Q: They seem to be saying that Orlando was the shooter and Keefe was in on it, that he had full knowledge of what was going down and it was revenge for Orlando getting beat up by Tupac and his team uh at the MGM after the Tyson fight. Is that correct?
"A: No.
"Q: Then who shot Tupac?
"A: It wasn’t Anderson, that’s all I have to say about that."
Keefe's lawyers argue that the two men played football together as kids and knew each other well, saying: "Despite being the only living eyewitness, and a surviving victim, the State did not have Knight testify before the Grand Jury.
"Knight’s public statements have refuted Duane’s alleged version of events as recited in the book Compton Street Legend and in the YouTube interviews.
"Knight and Duane grew up playing football together in Compton. They played on the same team. Knight’s father and uncle were the coaches.
"They’ve known each other for approximately fifty years. If Duane’s story in the book was true; that him and Knight locked eyes before Shakur was shot, Knight would have been able to identify Duane
and Anderson."
They dismissed testimony from other witnesses at the grand jury, which decided to prosecute Keefe, as hearsay and speculative.
Keefe said he only decided to write the book and give YouTube interviews after seeing that LAPD detective Greg Kading, who had interviewed him about Tupac, was seemingly profiting from the situation.
When Keefe was facing federal drug charges, a taskforce, which included Kading, persuaded him to admit to Tupac's murder in return for immunity, according to the court document.
This taped confession was later leaked.
"This task force threatened he would go to prison for life unless he admitted to involvement in Shakur’s death," the bail application stated.
"Duane was offered immunity in exchange for admitting to being involved in the death of Shakur.
"Information from this immunity deal was released into the public by Greg Kading.
"Kading secretly recorded one of the interviews and went on to write a book and movie and to produce a miniseries from the secret recording.
"Duane decided to become involved with the publishing of the book Compton Street Legend and to give interviews for money after watching Greg Kading profit from the situation."
They added: "It has not been established which parts of the book, if any, Duane wrote."
Keefe's lawyers have requested that he be released on house arrest with electronic monitoring until his trial, saying: "He is not a threat to the community. Additionally, he is not a flight risk."
They argue he turned his life around and "left the drug game" in 2009, got a job, and became a well-regarded member of the community.
They added that he suffered from colon cancer and heart problems before he was jailed and his health has declined since he's been behind bars due to a lack of exercise, fewer medical appointments and unhealthy meals "that barely pass as food."
They added: "Going on the run would be a death sentence for him."
Keefe has pleaded not guilty to murder and the trial is set to take place in June next year.
