Judge bans specific Lil Durk lyrics from murder-for-hire trial
Lil Durk has successfully had some of his lyrics banned from his upcoming murder-for-hire trial.
The Chicago rapper’s legal team have been fighting to exclude all lyrics in the case, where he’s accused of conspiring with others to kill Quando Rondo, resulting in the death of his cousin, Lul Pab.
While US District Judge Michael W Fitzgerald is still making a decision on some of his lyrics, he has banned some specific lines.
According to Rolling Stone, one of them is from his 2022 song ‘Hanging with Wolves’, in which he raps, “I’m the type to hop on a flight with a warrant, you gotta catch me.”
Prosecutors allege that it supports their claim that Durk (real name Durk Banks) was trying to get out of the country when he was arrested in 2024.
The judge said, “Particular lyrics [sought] to bolster the government’s argument that there was an intention to flee – which is traditionally viewed as consciousness of guilt – will be excluded because they really are just sheer propensity. Lyrics attempting to show Mr Banks’ willingness to flee will be excluded from the trial.”
The government are trying to admit 12 songs, claiming he “used his money for violence” as the alleged leader of a “gang.”
On the other hand, Durk’s attorneys state his lyrics have an “extraordinary risk” of being misunderstood by the jury.
Durk’s trial will begin on April 21st. He’s been charged with one count of conspiracy and one count of use of interstate facilities to commit murder-for-hire resulting in death.
He’s also been charged with one count of using, carrying, and discharging firearms and a machine gun and possession of such firearms in furtherance of a crime of violence resulting in death.