Lil Durk Trial Update: What Did He Do and When Could the Verdict Come in Murder-for-Hire Case?

Rapper Lil Durk's fate is moving into the hands of a Los Angeles jury after prosecutors accused the Grammy-winning rapper of orchestrating a deadly revenge plot, while his lawyers argued the government's case is overwhelmed by reasonable doubt.

The 33-year-old Chicago rapper, whose real name is Durk Banks, has pleaded not guilty to five federal counts linked to the August 2022 shooting that killed Saviay'a Robinson, the cousin of rapper Quando Rondo. Closing arguments finished on Tuesday, with jurors expected to begin deliberations on Wednesday, 9 September. Banks could face life in prison if convicted.

Lil Durk Trial Update: What Did He Allegedly Do?

Prosecutors allege Banks called for and financed a murder-for-hire plot targeting Quando Rondo, whose real name is Tyquian Bowman, as revenge for the 2020 killing of Banks' close friend and musical protégé, King Von.

Members and associates of Banks' Only The Family collective allegedly travelled from Chicago to California before following Bowman around Los Angeles.

On 19 August 2022, gunmen opened fire on a vehicle near the Beverly Center. Bowman escaped unharmed, but his 24-year-old cousin Robinson, also known as Lul Pab, was killed. Prosecutors have not alleged that Banks personally participated in the shooting.

Prosecutors Claim Lil Durk Wanted 'Revenge'

During closing arguments, prosecutors portrayed Banks as the driving force behind the alleged plot.

The government's case has relied heavily on three cooperating witnesses, Kacey 'OTF Jam' Hester, Kavon 'OTF Vonnie' Grant and Keith Jones, who admitted roles in the attack and testified against Banks.

Jones told jurors that he understood there was a $1 million (around £740,000) bounty on Bowman, while Grant testified that Banks had promised money to anyone who killed the rapper. Prosecutors also presented travel records, financial evidence and communications they said connected Banks to the alleged conspiracy.

All three cooperating witnesses said Banks was not present at the shooting, and the New York Times reported that none ultimately received payment for the killing.

Lil Durk's Defence Claims 'Reasonable Doubt'

Banks' lawyers have offered a sharply different account, arguing that former personal assistant Grant orchestrated the attack without the rapper's knowledge.

The defence sought to undermine the credibility of the cooperating witnesses, pointing to their criminal histories and plea agreements while arguing they had incentives to implicate Banks.

Attorney Brian Steel also stressed that prosecutors must prove Banks knowingly entered into the alleged conspiracy, rather than simply showing that people associated with his OTF collective committed crimes.

Defence lawyers presented evidence that Grant had access to Banks' financial information and credit cards. They also highlighted testimony that Grant had personally expressed a desire for revenge following King Von's death.

When Could the Lil Durk Verdict Come?

Jurors are expected to begin deliberating on Wednesday after selecting a foreperson, bringing the Lil Durk trial to its most consequential stage.

There is no fixed timetable for a verdict. The jury can deliberate for as long as necessary while considering the evidence and deciding whether prosecutors proved the charges beyond a reasonable doubt.

Banks faces five counts before the jury, including charges involving stalking and murder-for-hire resulting in death. His two remaining co-defendants have also pleaded not guilty.

If Banks is convicted on the most serious charges, he could face a sentence of up to life in federal prison. A separate murder-in-aid-of-racketeering charge was severed from the current trial and is not being decided by this jury.