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Lil Durk's legal team asked a judge to admit more footage from Akademiks' discussion with the rapper to give jurors a more balanced view of his comments as they deliberate.
The Chicago native's lawyers made their request on Wednesday, September 9, a day after the prosecution delivered its closing arguments. In their filing, Durk's attorneys, Drew Findling, Marissa Goldberg, Brian Steel and Christy O'Connor, argued that the prosecution misrepresented clips of Akademiks' 2023 interview to make it seem like Durk confessed to the August 2022 murder of Quando Rondo's cousin, Saviay'a “Lul Pab” Robinson, during its closing argument.
The "All My Life" rapper's legal team had previously requested to admit more footage from the interview on August 31. The footage in question shows Durk telling Akademiks that he didn't take Tekashi 6ix9ine's suggestion to "slide for Von" seriously. The phrase encourages retaliation for King Von's death after he was allegedly shot and killed by Quando's associate Lul Tim in 2020. He also said that he chose to "turn hate into love" by walking away from his beefs.
Durk's attorneys argued that the additional clips would've given the jury a more complete perspective as they decide on a verdict. Unfortunately, Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald denied their first request. In their latest filing, the rapper's legal team asked for an emergency hearing and ruling on the matter while the jury deliberates. Ultimately, Judge Fitzgerald also denied their latest request. Although he sympathized with the defense, the judge ruled that the prosecution's comments aren't considered evidence since they were made during closing arguments.
Lil Durk faces five charges, including conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, committing murder-for-hire resulting in death, as well as the use of and discharge of firearms and a machine gun in furtherance of a crime of violence resulting in death. Prosecutors argued Durk organized a murder-for-hire plot in 2022 that was aimed at rapper Quando Rondo but resulted in the death of his cousin Saviay’a “Lul Pab” Robinson. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The jury has heard from several witnesses during the trial, including Kacey Hester, also known as "OTF Jam," who gave the court a play-by-play of the events that led up to the 2022 shooting. After three weeks of trial hearings, a jury is currently deliberating.