Lil Durk cleared of murder-for-hire charges, faces fresh trial in October

Grammy-winning American rapper Lil Durk has been acquitted of all charges in a federal murder-for-hire case in the United States.

The Chicago-born rapper, whose real name is Durk Devontay Banks, was accused of arranging the 2022 killing of Saviay’a Robinson, the cousin of fellow rapper Quando Rondo, in Los Angeles.

A federal jury delivered its verdict on Friday after three days of deliberations, clearing the 33-year-old rapper of five felony charges, including murder for hire resulting in death and conspiracy.

Durk faced the possibility of a life sentence if convicted.

Despite his acquittal in the case, the rapper remains in custody ahead of another trial scheduled for October.

His defense lawyer, Drew Findling, said Banks was “thankful” following the verdict, while supporters cheered outside the Los Angeles courthouse.

Prosecutors had alleged that Banks organized the attack as retaliation for the 2020 killing of rapper King Von, who was signed to Banks’ Only the Family, OTF, record label.

The August 2022 attack occurred at a petrol station in Los Angeles, where a vehicle carrying Rondo, whose real name is Tyquian Bowman, was targeted in a shooting. Bowman escaped unharmed, but his cousin Robinson was killed.

Prosecutors alleged that Banks had offered a bounty for anyone who killed Bowman, arguing that he was under pressure from social media to avenge King Von’s death.

The case relied heavily on testimony from three cooperating witnesses who had reached plea agreements with prosecutors.

Two co-defendants, Deandre “OTF Dede” Wilson and David “Browneyez” Lindsey, were also acquitted of the murder for hire charges but convicted of stalking and conspiracy to commit stalking.

Although Banks was cleared in the murder for hire case, he remains in custody because of a separate case in which he is scheduled to face racketeering, murder, and firearms charges on October 5.

First Assistant US Attorney Bill Essayli said prosecutors were disappointed with the verdict but would proceed with the second trial.

Banks founded OTF in 2010 and has established himself as one of the leading figures in Chicago rap. He has released seven albums that reached the top five of the US Billboard chart since 2019.

He won the 2024 Grammy Award for Best Melodic Rap Performance for “All My Life,” featuring J. Cole, and has received three other Grammy nominations.

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