Lil Durk acquitted in US murder-for-hire trial, faces fresh case

Grammy-winning American rapper Lil Durk has been acquitted of all charges in a federal murder for hire case in the United States, but he remains in custody ahead of another trial scheduled for October.

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

A jury returned its verdict on Friday after three days of deliberations, acquitting the 33-year-old of five felony charges, including murder for hire resulting in death and conspiracy. If convicted, he could have faced a life sentence.

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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