LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — The defense team for Duane “Keffe D” Davis has rested its case after calling three witnesses on Thursday, clearing the way for closing arguments next week in the Tupac Shakur murder trial.

Defense attorneys for Duane “Keffe D” Davis began presenting their case at noon Thursday, marking a major shift in the murder trial tied to the 1996 killing of hip-hop icon Tupac Shakur.

The defense’s turn came after prosecutors officially rested their case on Wednesday afternoon following eight days of testimony and 25 witnesses.

MORE ON FOX5: How the prosecution built its case in the Tupac Murder Trial

Defense attorney Michael Sanft called three law enforcement officers to the stand Thursday including a retired Compton gang detective, in an effort to challenge the prosecution’s timeline and evidence.

Jurors also waited to see whether Davis, the only person ever charged in the shooting, will exercise his right to testify in his own defense as the high-profile trial enters its next phase in Clark County District Court.

However, Davis let Sanft know soon into Thursday’s proceeding’s he will not testify.

Sanft said he did not question his client further about his decision.

He addressed the media after court proceedings ended Thursday.

“I think it’s his decision I mean, if he decides to do it or not, that’s his constitutional right,” Sanft said. “I’ve never forced or urged anyone to do either for or against that kind of decision.”

Sanft also said he was satisfied with his defense strategy Thursday.

“I thought we laid out a more complete record,” Sanft said.

When asked how what he thinks the jury will consider when they head to the deliberation room Sanft said “I think that you know that they would look at all the evidence and ask themselves the question like just because someone says something is that enough.”

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12:10 p.m.

The first witness the defense called to the stand was Stan Hyt, a former Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officer who was working overtime on the night of the Mike Tyson fight.

He says several officers were working overtime that night due to the number of people in town for the fight.

12:17 p.m.

According to Hyt, he was on assignment at Suge Knight’s residence. He was stationed at the gate with an entourage of 15 cars that went through.

He says the last car was Suge Knight’s, which he remembers was a cream-colored Cadillac.

12:22 p.m.

The jury asked the following question:

“Did you notice any damage or bullet holes on any of the cars that came through the gates at Shug Knight’s residence, especially the white Cadillac?”

“No. There was no damage to them.” Hyt responded.

The Jury also asked, “Were any of the crew members carrying guns?”

“I didn’t see any guns on any of the entourage people, no, because they were all in their cars,” Hyt said.

12:25 p.m.

The second witness the defense called to the stand was Charlie Mangrum. Mangrum was working as an officer on the night of Sept. 7, 1996.

Mangrum says he was in charge of three other police officers monitoring a party at Suge Knight’s house.

12:31 p.m.

Mangrum explained that there had been other parties following Mike Tyson fights at Suge Knight’s house. The HOA had issues with the number of people and uninvited guests that showed up, and they wanted to have some police officers there to keep the peace.

When Mangrum was questioned about the cars going in and out of the residence, he explained that around 10:10 p.m. to 10:15 p.m., a BMW with Tupac in the passenger seat came to the gate with about five or six other vehicles in line.

12:38 p.m.

“Could you say what model of Cadillac?” the jury asked.

Mangrum said, “I do not recall that.”

12:40 p.m.

Dan Long was the third witness called to the stand. Long was a gang and crimes detective for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department in the 90’s.

12:51 p.m.

Long says on the night of Sept. 7, 1996, while working as a detective for the gang crimes unit, his enforcement team had stopped multiple juveniles about more than a block east of Koval and Flamingo Street.

Long says the team determined they were not gang members. Shortly after, they heard a “volley of gunshots.”

When describing the scene and traffic in the area as shots were fired, Long said, “There was people everywhere, people walking, traffic was fully backed up. We had to get into the intersection. We were in non-marked cars, so we were in plain cars. We moved into the intersection using red lights and sirens.” Long added, “We moved across, people were waving at us and pointing.”

In 2004, Long was working in the homicide unit where he was instructed to follow any further leads on the Tupac murder case.

Long says before he had reviewed the case, Detective Becker and Detective Mike Franks were assigned to the files.

Long says there was a lot of interest in the case and some unauthorized interest by other officers.

”They locked down the file itself," Long explained is how he secured his hard copy files on the case.

Long says then there was a period where the homicide unit went through some changes as to how he filed his reports.

“They changed the way I did my report, I would hand them in, and they were secure”

Long said many tips came in about the murder and they tested thousands of guns but none matched the cartridges found at the crime scene.

1:19 p.m.

Long interviewed Davis in California. He was ready to arrest him for murder. “We brought back the recording and transcripts over the DA reviewed it and they told me they weren’t going forward with prosecution at that time because they were a lot of complications”

1:25 p.m.

Defense rests.

Davis waives his appearance for jury instructions.

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