Connect with us

Entertainment

Defendant in Tupac Shakur killing loses defense lawyer ahead of arraignment on murder charge

Published

on

The former Southern California street gang leader charged with killing Tupac Shakur in 1996 in Las Vegas has lost his bid to be represented at his arraignment by the lawyer who spoke publicly about his defense two weeks ago.

Attorney Ross Goodman told The Associated Press on Wednesday that Duane Keith “Keffe D” Davis could not meet terms of an agreement that a judge on Oct. 19 gave them two more weeks to reach. Goodman did not specify a reason for the impasse.

Davis is due for arraignment Thursday, and Clark County District Court Judge Tierra Jones could order a financial accounting of Davis’ assets to determine if he can afford a lawyer or if she should declare him indigent and name an attorney to defend him at public expense.

Scott Coffee, a deputy Clark County public defender, said attorneys there were reviewing Davis’ case to determine whether they can represent Davis or if they have a conflict such as having in the past represented other people involved in the case.

Advertisement

The judge also could name a defense attorney in private practice to represent Davis at taxpayer expense, or assign a special public defender from the county, an alternate roster of possible court-appointed attorneys.

“We’re just not sure at this point how this will play out and who will end up representing him,” said Jordan Savage, assistant special public defender.

Edi Faal, Davis’ longtime personal lawyer in Los Angeles, said Wednesday he expected that a special public defender would be named to represent Davis. Faal told AP after Davis’ first court appearance on Oct. 4 that he was helping Davis find a defense attorney in Nevada, and he confirmed Goodman’s involvement two weeks ago.

Davis, 60, is originally from Compton, California. He was arrested Sept. 29 outside his home in suburban Las Vegas, the same day an indictment was filed accusing him of orchestrating the car-to-car shooting that killed Shakur and wounded rap music mogul Marion “Suge” Knight. Davis is expected to plead not guilty to a murder charge that could put him in prison for the rest of his life.

Shakur died at age 25. Knight was wounded but survived. Now 58, he’s serving a 28-year prison sentence for the death of a Compton businessman in January 2015. Knight has not responded to AP requests for comment about Davis arrest.

Advertisement

Goodman said Oct. 19 he saw “obvious defenses” in the murder case, including that police and prosecutors do not have the gun or car used in the shooting, and “there’s no witnesses from 27 years ago.”

Prosecutors allege Shakur’s killing in Las Vegas came out of competition between East Coast and West Coast groups over dominance in a musical genre then dubbed “gangsta rap.” Grand jurors were told the shooting followed a brawl in a Las Vegas Strip casino involving Shakur and Davis’ nephew, Orlando “Baby Lane” Anderson.

Anderson denied involvement in Shakur’s death and died in a May 1998 shooting in Compton at age 23. The other two men in the car with Davis and Anderson also are now dead.

Davis in recent years has publicly described his role in Shakur’s death, including in interviews and a 2019 tell-all memoir that described his life as a leader of a Crips gang sect in Compton.

Prosecutor Marc DiGiacomo told the grand jury that Davis admitted in his book that he provided the gun, was in the car “and that he was the on-ground, on-site commander of the effort to kill Tupac Shakur and Suge Knight.”

Advertisement

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Entertainment

Reekado Banks threatens to expose industry saboteur, clarifies it’s not Don Jazzy

Published

on

Reekado Banks saboteur

Reekado Banks hints at exposing an industry figure who sabotages emerging talents, clarifying it’s not Don Jazzy after fan speculation

 

Popular Nigerian singer, Reekado Banks, has raised eyebrows with a cryptic post on X (formerly Twitter), in which he threatened to expose a person he claims is sabotaging emerging talents in the Nigerian music industry.

The singer described this mysterious figure as either “demonic or clueless,” suggesting that they have a history of attracting bright new artists only to hinder their success through poor decisions.

In his post, Banks revealed that this individual, despite being involved with some of the best budding talents, had managed to slow down or even derail their careers. He promised to shed light on this personality during an upcoming interview.

Advertisement

The post read, “One day, I’ll take an interview to talk about someone in the corners of the entertainment industry, who’s either absolutely clueless or plain demonic.

Somehow, the brightest budding talents fall in their lap and either through cluelessness or pure demonic activities, they agree to policies that effectively slow these talents down and for some other talents, frustrate them out of pursuing their dreams. One day…”

Banks’ statement quickly led to speculations among fans that he was referring to a figure from his past, particularly from his time at Mavins Records, the label where he first rose to fame. Given that Mavins’ CEO, Don Jazzy, was instrumental in Reekado’s career, many assumed the post was aimed at him.

However, Reekado was quick to clarify the misunderstanding in another post, writing, “It may not be obvious to you all, but I’m definitely not referring to Baba J [Don Jazzy]. Ejo lol, pls n thanks.”

Despite the clarification, Banks did not reveal the identity of the alleged saboteur, leaving fans to speculate further. Nonetheless, his comments have sparked conversation around the challenges facing emerging artists in the highly competitive Nigerian music industry, where both internal and external factors can significantly influence a career’s trajectory.

Advertisement

Continue Reading

Entertainment

Iyabo Ojo dazzles at ‘Labake Olododo: The Warrior Lord’ premiere in Lagos

Published

on

Iyabo Ojo Labake Olododo premiere

Nollywood star Iyabo Ojo steals the spotlight at her movie premiere in Lagos, where she embodied her warrior character in an unforgettable entrance

 

Nollywood actress and filmmaker Iyabo Ojo left a lasting impression in Lagos over the weekend with the premiere of her highly anticipated movie, *Labake Olododo: The Warrior Lord*.

Also read: Iyabo Ojo celebrates daughter Priscilla’s career milestone with heartfelt message

The star-studded event, which took place on March 23rd at Filmhouse Cinemas IMAX Lekki, brought together some of the biggest names in Nollywood to celebrate this latest cinematic achievement.

Ojo made an entrance that captivated the audience, fully embracing her warrior character from the film. Dressed in an elaborate costume featuring intricately beaded dreadlocks and finely crafted animal skins, she arrived on horseback, embodying the fierce and regal persona of her character.

Advertisement

A priestess, dressed in white and holding a dove, led the procession, singing a traditional song to set the stage for a night of cultural spectacle.

The premiere wasn’t just about the movie—it was an immersive experience. Ojo was accompanied by the film’s cast members, adding excitement and energy to the event.

The venue itself was thoughtfully designed to match the traditional themes of the movie, with the atmosphere reflecting the cultural richness portrayed in the film.

Guests were thrilled by the attention to detail, with one attendee commenting, “The creativity and the attention to detail speaks volume. The venue was designed to match their outfit, depicting the traditional houses in the movie. Kudos to Aunty Iyabo, it’s a sell-out season.”

Social media buzzed with excitement after the premiere, with many praising the creativity and unique approach to the event. *Labake Olododo:

Advertisement

The Warrior Lord* is expected to be a massive success, as fans expressed their confidence in the movie’s success, with one comment stating, “Not me screaming, Billions of views already, May it go far more than anyone’s expectations, Amin.”

While the event was filled with praise for the film’s innovative approach, not everyone was on board. Some voices expressed concerns about the impact of such films on Nigerian society, with one user questioning the use of “fetishism” in movies.

However, the overwhelming sentiment was one of celebration, with many hoping for the movie’s success and wishing Iyabo Ojo continued blessings.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Entertainment

Davido’s performance at Richard Nii Armah’s birthday party sparks mixed reactions

Published

on

Davido performance Ghana

Davido’s recent performance at Richard Nii Armah’s birthday sparked mixed reactions online, with fans divided over his vocal delivery and energy

 

A recent performance by Nigerian singer Davido at the birthday party of Ghanaian billionaire Richard Nii Armah has quickly gone viral, but not for the reasons the artist may have hoped.

A video clip from the event, which surfaced online, has sparked a flurry of reactions from netizens, ranging from harsh criticism to staunch defence of the singer.

Many social media users expressed disappointment over Davido’s vocal performance, noting that he sounded off-key, with some even claiming he resembled an up-and-coming artist rather than a global superstar.

Advertisement

One user, *aremogucci001*, wrote, “This one just be like upcoming,” while another commenter, *zhouv9*, added, “Zero vocals, noise always.”

Criticism continued with *elon_musk1son* suggesting, “Where is the performance energy? Abi hin don too much banku when he come? God too bless Wizkid sha,” implying that Davido’s energy was lacking and comparing him unfavourably to fellow Nigerian artist Wizkid.

A number of other users shared similar sentiments. *maxika99* bluntly stated, “I swear dis guy no sabi sing,” while *phemonz_* criticised the crowd for not showing Davido more love, saying, “These people don’t show love at all as they can’t sing along with him.”

However, despite the wave of negative feedback, Davido’s supporters were quick to jump to his defence. Some argued that the singer was being unfairly judged, with *kodakblaine2x* suggesting,

“Always performing for big people. The other werey de mumu for Twitter,” implying that the critics were just being harsh without understanding the context.

Advertisement

*victoria_may_7* wrote, “What took his voice? Because I barely heard him say anything. Make artist dey lip-sync ein own song. Nawa for una 001,” pointing out the possibility of technical issues affecting the performance.

Meanwhile, *creamycozy* took a more lighthearted approach, saying, “Wizkid is their godfather, the father that fathered their fathers. Popsy dey ever give me reason to brag differently,” suggesting that the rivalry between Davido and Wizkid still runs deep among fans.

The video and its resulting debate serve as a reminder of the polarising nature of celebrity performances. While some continue to back the artist’s talent, others are left questioning his recent stage presence.

With his career firmly rooted in both the Nigerian and international music scenes, Davido is no stranger to public scrutiny. Whether this controversy will affect his reputation or serve as yet another chapter in his illustrious career remains to be seen.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending

%d