Michael Sanft, the lawyer who represented Duane “Keffe D” Davis in his murder trial for the 1996 killing of Tupac Shakur, was found dead last week in Las Vegas. He was 55-years-old.
His death was confirmed by the Clark County Coroner’s Office on Friday, November 6, according to FOX5 Las Vegas. His body was found at his home, authorities said, but the cause of death has not yet been released. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department are reportedly “referring all inquiries about Sanft’s death to the coroner’s office.”
Sanft died less than a month after Davis, the only suspect in Tupac Shakur’s murder, was sentenced to 40 years to life.
Michael Sanft Defended Keffe D For Free In Tupac Murder Trial
Despite the case’s high-profile nature, Michael Sanft took on Davis’ defense pro bono. Over his career, he reportedly tried over 150 cases as lead trial attorney at SOS Injury Lawyers.
Duane Davis was accused by the prosecution of planning the drive-by shooting that killed Tupac Shakur on September 7, 1996, after Mike Tyson fight. He is the only person ever charged in the drive-by shooting. On August 31, a jury debated for around three hours before finding Davis guilty.
Davis’s own incriminating statements over the years, including remarks in interviews, documentaries, and his biography, were crucial to the case. Sanft argued that those statements were exaggerated and did not prove that his client was responsible.
After the verdict, Sanft told FOX 5 he believed his legal team had done everything possible.
“Maybe if I had a psychic sitting next to me to help discern who should be on the jury,” he said when asked what he might have done differently.
“We had the best team possible in this case,” he added. “We all did our part. I don’t see what I could’ve done differently.”
Tupac Murder Conviction Was Already Being Appealed
On October 13, Davis received his 40-years-to-life prison sentence. Michael Sanft said he was disappointed with the jury’s decision, but Davis encouraged him to view the conviction as only the beginning of their legal battle.
“He had reminded me this is phase one,” Sanft recalled. “Because I was upset with the verdict, I was very disappointed in the jury. Mr. Davis was the one who said, don’t worry about it, man, this is the first phase, and I said, I understand; I hate to lose.”
A notice of appeal was filed on October 30, just one week before Michael Sanft’s death.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported that Michael Sloan, a Clark County District Court marshal who rode motorcycles with Sanft, remembered him as “one of my best friends and one of the best human beings I knew.”
For now, the circumstances surrounding Michael Sanft’s death remain unclear, as does who will handle Duane Davis’ appeal going forward. A police spokesperson did, however, say that his death did not appear suspicious.