Lil Durk has been accused of threatening witnesses ahead of his murder-for-hire trial later this year.
The Chicago drill star was attempting to dismiss the case against him as he stands accused of being behind the murder of Quando Rondo’s cousin in 2022.
Prosecutors have claimed that Durk has threatened witnesses during his incarceration in a reply to the rapper’s bid to dismiss the case.
“[Lil Durk] is not on trial for his lyrics or his music; he is on trial because he directed, orchestrated, and financed the brazen murder plot at issue in this case,” U.S. Attorney Bilal A. Essayli said.
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Durk and his attorneys had argued that the case against him should be dismissed because prosecutors included lyrics as evidence against him even the song in question was recorded months before the attack on Rondo which killed his cousin.
A key part of the prosecution’s case and in obtaining the rapper’s arrest in the first place was Durk’s lyrics, specifically from the song “Wonderful Wayne & Jackie Boy”.
A judge later ruled that Durk’s lyrics could not be used as evidence during his upcoming trial.
Durk’s family had previously called out the government over their plans to use his lyrics against him during the trial.
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In a statement on Instagram, the drill star’s family hit out at the actions of the prosecution.
They said: “The recent developments in Durk’s legal case have brought a harsh truth to light: the government presented false evidence to a grand jury to indict him. This isn’t justice. That’s a violation of the very system that’s supposed to protect all of us.”
The statement continues: “Durk has always used music to tell stories, to express pain to heal—and yet those same lyrics are now being used against him. We refuse to stay silent as Black artists continue to be criminalized for their creativity. Rap is art.”
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The family also called on fans to show support for Durk while he remains behind bars ahead of his trial later this year: “As a family, we are asking the public, the fans, and the culture to stand with us. Stand for truth. Stand for fairness. Stand for The Voice.”
Durk currently remains held in custody ahead of yet another bond hearing next month.
