Agency Report
Michael Sanft, the lawyer who represented Duane Keith “Keffe D” Davis in the murder trial of American rapper Tupac Shakur, has died at the age of 55.
Sanft was found dead in Las Vegas on Friday, November 6, according to USA Today, which quoted a spokesperson for the Clark County Office of the Coroner as confirming his death.
The cause of death had not been disclosed as of the time of filing this report.
Sanft was a prominent Nevada attorney who recently represented Davis, who was convicted in August of first-degree murder with the use of a deadly weapon over his role in the fatal shooting of Shakur in 1996.
Davis, 63, was sentenced in October to 40 years to life in prison, becoming the first person convicted in connection with the rapper’s killing.
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Following the verdict, Sanft expressed disappointment with the jury’s decision but said he intended to challenge the conviction.
Court records obtained by USA Today showed that he filed a notice of appeal on October 30.
Speaking to local broadcaster FOX5 after the sentencing, Sanft said his legal team had done its best throughout the trial.
“We had the best team possible in this case, from the motion practice work on this appeal to our investigator to our firm here at SOS Injury. We all did our part. I don’t see what I could’ve done differently,” he said.
He also recalled discussing the next steps with Davis, who encouraged him to view the verdict as the first stage of a longer legal battle.
“He had reminded me this is phase one. 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,’” Sanft told FOX5.
According to his biography on the website of his law firm, SOS Injury Lawyers, Sanft grew up on the island of Tonga before moving with his family to San Diego, California, at the age of 12.
He later served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and attended BYU-Hawaii, where he performed at the Polynesian Cultural Centre.
His biography said he subsequently pursued a career in law, describing it as “the next logical step in his journey”, given his work ethic, ability to connect with people and desire to help vulnerable individuals.
The firm described him as an experienced trial attorney who had handled more than 150 cases.
At the time of his death, Sanft was the lead trial attorney at SOS Injury Lawyers.
