Fame Under Fire: Russell Brand on Trial

Fame Under Fire is at Southwark Crown Court for the trial of comedian, actor and broadcaster Russell Brand.

Brand faces seven sexual offence charges involving six women: three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault. The alleged offences date from 1999 to 2009.

He has pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

Under UK court reporting rules, cameras and recording device are not allowed inside the courtroom. For Fame Under Fire, Russell Brand on Trial, Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty will take you inside the case another way. Every day we’ll bring you updates on what the jury hears, with expert analysis of what is happening and the law behind the case.

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Latest Episodes:

Tupac: Day 10 - Keffe D Verdict Sep 01, 2026

Show notes

Duane "Keffe D" Davis has been found guilty of first-degree murder with a deadly weapon for the killing of Tupac Shakur, almost 30 years after the rapper was shot in Las Vegas.

Jurors returned the verdict after nearly three hours of deliberations following closing arguments in which prosecutors pointed to Davis's own repeated accounts of the killing, while the defence argued there was no independent evidence placing him in the white Cadillac, or in Las Vegas, at the time.

Davis faces a potential sentence of life in prison without parole. Sentencing is due on 13 October and he says he plans to appeal.

For Fame Under Fire: The Tupac Murder Trial, Anoushka has been in the Las Vegas courtroom every day bringing you updates.

We’ve got more trials coming up - make sure you lock in so you don’t miss a thing.

Host: Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty Series Producer: Louise Clarke Digital Journalist: Daniel Raza Production Coordinator: Phoebe Lomas Technical Producer: Cameron Ward Editor: Clare Fordham Commissioning Producer: Adam Eland Assistant Commissioner: Chris Walsh-Heron Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts

Tupac: Day 9 - Two White Cadillacs? Aug 28, 2026

Show notes

Was there another white Cadillac in Las Vegas on the night Tupac Shakur was shot?

Two former officers testified that they saw a cream-coloured Cadillac entering and leaving Suge Knight’s property shortly before the shooting, raising questions about the light-coloured Cadillac prosecutors say was used by Tupac’s killers.

Duane “Keffe D” Davis is charged with murder and accused of orchestrating Shakur's death. He has denied the charges and pleaded not guilty.

Jurors also heard that other people contacted investigators claiming involvement in Tupac’s murder, as the defence challenged detectives over their inability to independently corroborate key parts of Duane “Keffe D” Davis’s account.

The defence has now rested its case, with closing arguments due next week.

For Fame Under Fire: The Tupac Murder Trial, Anoushka is in the Las Vegas courtroom every day to bring you updates.

Make sure you lock in so you don’t miss a thing.

Host: Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty Series Producer: Louise Clarke Digital Journalist: Daniel Raza Production Coordinator: Phoebe Lomas Technical Producer: Richard Hanniford Editor: Clare Fordham Commissioning Producer: Adam Eland Assistant Commissioner: Chris Walsh-Heron Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts

Tupac: Day 8 - Keffe’s Tupac Jail Calls Aug 27, 2026

Show notes

Jurors hear jail calls from Duane "Keffe D" Davis in which he makes angry allegations about Tupac Shakur and says he is not an icon.

Duane “Keffe D” Davis is charged with murder and accused of orchestrating Shakur's death. He has denied the charges and pleaded not guilty.

The jury were also shown silent courtroom footage of Davis mouthing towards Reggie Wright Jr after his testimony. The clip has prompted claims on social media that Davis called him a “rat” and Davis’s lawyer disputes that interpretation.

The prosecution has now officially rested its case.

For Fame Under Fire: The Tupac Murder Trial, Anoushka is in the Las Vegas courtroom every day to bring you updates.

Make sure you lock in so you don’t miss a thing.

Tupac: Day 7 - Keffe D’s Scrapbook Aug 26, 2026

Show notes

Jurors hear about evidence seized during the 2023 search of Duane "Keffe D" Davis's home, including a scrapbook containing newspaper reports about Tupac Shakur's shooting and death dating back to 1996.

Duane “Keffe D” Davis is charged with murder and accused of orchestrating Shakur's death. He has denied the charges and pleaded not guilty.

The prosecution also calls former Compton police officer Robert Ladd, who testifies that Davis was a high-ranking member of the South Side Compton Crips and a "shot caller" with authority over younger gang members.

The defence continues to question the physical evidence, highlighting that earlier searches found nothing that could place Davis in Las Vegas on the night Tupac was shot.

For Fame Under Fire: The Tupac Murder Trial, Anoushka is in the Las Vegas courtroom every day to bring you updates.

Make sure you lock in so you don’t miss a thing.

Tupac: Day 6 - Courtroom Clash Aug 25, 2026

Show notes

Tensions rise in the Tupac murder trial as documentary maker Mike Dorsey clashes with defence attorney Michael Sanft during a heated cross-examination.

Duane “Keffe D” Davis is charged with murder and accused of orchestrating Shakur's death. He has denied the charges and pleaded not guilty.

The judge stepped in several times as the exchanges became increasingly tense.

The jury also heard more uncut recordings of Duane "Keffe D" Davis made during interviews for a BET documentary, including Davis saying "I'm a killer" before asking whether he would be able to review material before it was released.

For Fame Under Fire: The Tupac Murder Trial, Anoushka is in the Las Vegas courtroom every day to bring you updates.

Make sure you lock in so you don’t miss a thing.

Tupac: Day 5 - Keffe D Threat Claims Aug 24, 2026

Show notes

Duane "Keffe D" Davis speaks out in court, telling the judge his family is being threatened and that his home and his wife's car have been vandalised.

Davis is charged with murder and accused of orchestrating Shakur's death. He has denied the charges and pleaded not guilty.

Davis said the disclosure of addresses connected to his family was putting them in danger. The judge said she had heard concerns about behaviour on both sides and warned the prosecution and defence about witnesses contacting each other.

The jury also hears more recordings of Davis discussing the night Tupac Shakur was shot, including footage used in a BET documentary about Death Row Records and interviews Davis gave to investigators in 2009.

For Fame Under Fire: The Tupac Murder Trial, Anoushka is in the Las Vegas courtroom every day to bring you updates.

Make sure you lock in so you don’t miss a thing.

Tupac: Day 4 - Diddy $1m Hit Claim Aug 21, 2026

Show notes

Day four of the Tupac Murder Trial hears hours of recordings in which Duane "Keffe D" Davis describes the night Tupac Shakur was shot and makes allegations involving Sean "Diddy" Combs.

Duane "Keffe D" Davis is charged with murder and accused of orchestrating Shakur's death. He has denied the charges and pleaded not guilty.

The court heard recordings from Davis's 2008 proffer interviews with law enforcement, in which he claimed Combs offered money for Tupac Shakur and Suge Knight to be killed, with a figure of $1 million discussed.

Davis also recounts driving around Las Vegas lookinfg for Tupac and Suge Knight after the MGM Grand fight, supplying the gun and saying repeatedly that he would have shot Tupac himself if the car had pulled up on his side.

Sean "Diddy" Combs has repeatedly denied any involvement in Tupac Shakur's death and has never been charged in connection with his murder.

For Fame Under Fire: The Tupac Murder Trial, Anoushka is in the Las Vegas courtroom every day to bring you updates. Make sure you lock in so you don’t miss a thing.

Tupac: Day 3 - Diddy and the FBI Aug 20, 2026

Show notes

Day three of the Tupac Murder Trial reveals new details about Duane "Keffe D" Davis's relationship with law enforcement, including how he became a confidential informant and went undercover after making allegations involving Sean "Diddy" Combs.

Duane "Keffe D" Davis is charged with murder and accused of orchestrating Shakur's death. He has denied the charges and pleaded not guilty.

The court heard that Davis alleged that Combs had offered money for Tupac and Suge Knight to be killed, and the court heard about an FBI investigation involving Bad Boy Records and Death Row Records.

The jury was told that at the time the FBI investigation did not lead to evidence of Sean Combs involvement.

For Fame Under Fire: The Tupac Murder Trial Anoushka will be in the Las Vegas courtroom every day to bring you updates. Make sure you lock in so you don’t miss a thing.

Host: Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty Series Producer: Louise Clarke Digital Journalist: Daniel Raza Production coordinator: Phoebe Lomas Technical Producer: Richard Hanniford Editor: Clare Fordham Commissioning Producer: Adam Eland Assistant Commissioner: Chris Walsh-Heron Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts

Tupac: Day 2 - Courtroom Drama Aug 19, 2026

Show notes

Day two of the trial takes a dramatic turn as James “Mob James” McDonald, a former Mob Piru member who worked security for Suge Knight, takes the stand in the Tupac Murder Trial.

Duane "Keffe D" Davis is charged with murder and accused of orchestrating Shakur's death. He has denied the charges and pleaded not guilty.

McDonald tells the court he does not want to testify and clashes repeatedly with defence lawyer Michael Sanft during a tense cross-examination.

The jury is also shown graphic autopsy photographs as a medical examiner gives evidence about Tupac’s fatal gunshot wounds.

Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty is joined by Kathy Kenzora, host of the History of the Nineties podcast, to break down the key moments from court.

For Fame Under Fire: The Tupac Murder Trial Anoushka will be in the Las Vegas courtoom every day to bring you updates. Make sure you lock in so you don’t miss a thing.

Tupac: Day 1 - Opening statements Aug 18, 2026

Show notes

Opening statements begin in the long-awaited trial over the murder of Tupac Shakur.

Duane “Keffe D” Davis has pleaded not guilty to murder and denies the allegations against him.

The prosecution tells the jury it will build its case using Duane ‘Keffe D’ Davis’s own words — from his memoir, interviews and recordings with police.

But the defence tells jurors not to believe Davis’s previous accounts, arguing that he lied and embellished his story.

As the first witnesses take the stand, the jury hears from a former police officer who encountered Tupac and Suge Knight shortly before the shooting, an eyewitness who heard the gunfire, and part of a 1997 police interview with Davis.

From the Regional Justice Center in Las Vegas, Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty is joined by the BBC’s Los Angeles correspondent Shaimaa Khalil to break down the prosecution and defence cases on day one of testimony.

For Fame Under Fire: The Tupac Murder Trial Anoushka will be in the Las Vegas courtoom every day to bring you updates. Make sure you lock in so you don’t miss a thing.

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