Attorney Michael Sanft, defender of Tupac's killer, dies

Michael Sanft, an American attorney known for representing Duane Keith “Keffe D” Davis in the murder trial of rapper Tupac Shakur, has died at the age of 55. He was found dead in Las Vegas, Nevada, on November 6, with the cause of death not disclosed.

Sanft was a prominent lawyer based in Nevada and had recently represented Davis, who was convicted in August of first-degree murder related to Shakur's 1996 killing. Davis was sentenced to 40 years to life in prison in October, marking the first conviction connected to Shakur's murder.

Following the verdict, Sanft expressed disappointment but indicated plans to appeal, filing a notice of appeal on October 30. He described his legal team as the best possible and recounted discussions with Davis about the next steps in their legal battle.

Sanft's background included growing up in Tonga and pursuing a law career, where he had handled over 150 cases and served as the lead trial attorney at SOS Injury Lawyers at the time of his death.