The attorney who represented Tupac Shakur's convicted murderer, Duane 'Keffe D' Davis, has died in Las Vegas, days after filing an appeal in the high-stakes murder trial. The body of Michael Sanft, 55, was found inside his Las Vegas home on Friday morning, according to his friend Michael Sloan, who spoke with the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

According to multiple local media reports, Sanft was reportedly found dead on Thursday night. However, his cause of death remains pending, and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officials have not released further details.

Sanft's death comes just one week after he filed an appeal challenging Davis' murder conviction. Davis was sentenced to life imprisonment with the possibility of parole after 40 years for staging the murder plot of rap icon Tupac Shakur.

'Keffe D' was charged with murdering rapper Tupac Shakur using a deadly weapon in a way that was meant to advance the interests of a criminal gang. Shakur, who was widely known as one of the most influential rappers of all time, was in Las Vegas on 7 September 1996, when he was stopped at a red light, a white Cadillac pulled up next to him, and shots were fired.

The trial ran over several weeks, and the jury took less than three hours of deliberation to reach its verdict. Legal experts note that Sanft's sudden passing introduces unexpected complications for the ongoing legal proceedings surrounding Duane Davis and his defense team.

Friends and colleagues have expressed deep shock and sorrow over the untimely demise of Michael Sanft, remembering his dedication to the legal profession and his relentless efforts in high-profile cases. Further updates regarding the official cause of death and the next steps for the defense appeal are expected to be released by local authorities and legal representatives in the coming days.