Las Vegas attorney Michael Sanft, who defended Keffe D, found dead at 55
The gist
Las Vegas attorney Michael Sanft, 55, who defended Duane "Keffe D" Davis in the Tupac Shakur murder trial, was found dead at his home.
His death leaves Davis's pending appeal without the lawyer who filed it.
How it unfolded
- Aug 31, 2026A Las Vegas jury found Duane "Keffe D" Davis guilty of first-degree murder with use of a deadly weapon in the 1996 killing of Tupac Shakur; Sanft delivered the defense's closing arguments that day.
- Oct 2026Davis was sentenced to 40 years to life in prison.
- Oct 30, 2026Court records indicate Sanft filed a notice of appeal of Davis's conviction.
Key terms
- pro bono
- Professional work done voluntarily and without payment, traditionally legal services for people who cannot afford them.
- notice of appeal
- A legal process in which a higher authority reviews a case or decision at a party's request.
- first-degree murder
- An unlawful killing with intent and added circumstances that make it more serious than ordinary murder.
Source: Wikipedia