Lil Durk’s Murder-for-Hire Trial Delayed as Juror Claims Defendants 'Look Guilty'

Lil Durk’s federal murder-for-hire trial is already hitting serious procedural roadblocks. The defense team hoped to deliver opening statements on Friday, August 21, in a Los Angeles federal court. Instead, jury selection slowed to a crawl after a prospective juror admitted he thought the Chicago rapper and his codefendants looked guilty. According to a HotNewHipHop report, which cited an exclusive from AllHipHop's Grouchy Greg Watkins, a male prospective juror—identified as juror number 18—stated he could not view the defendants fairly. He claimed their physical appearance alone signaled guilt, despite not hearing a single shred of evidence. Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald promptly dismissed him from the pool of roughly 80 prospective jurors. The court began the selection process on Thursday, August 20. By Friday afternoon, only about 40 percent of the pool had been evaluated. To move forward to opening statements, the court must secure 12 impartial jurors and four alternates. Durk and his codefendants have pleaded not guilty to charges alleging they orchestrated a 2022 Los Angeles shooting targeting rival Quando Rondo, which ultimately killed Rondo’s cousin, Lul Pab. Finding a truly impartial jury for a high-profile rap figure is always a farce. In this media climate, everyone has an internet connection and a preconceived notion about OTF. The court is fighting a losing battle trying to find 16 people in Los Angeles who live under a literal rock. Evaluations will continue into next week.