In a recent development, Lil Durk’s highly anticipated murder-for-hire trial has been postponed until late 2025, a significant delay from its original start date of January 7. According to Meghann Cuniff, a Legal Affairs & Trials reporter, court documents obtained on December 31 indicate that the trial is now set to commence on October 14.
The decision to delay the trial stems from the case’s intricate nature, which involves a staggering amount of evidence—approximately 230 GB of digital material, including audio and video recordings, surveillance footage, and an extensive collection of documents totaling around 20,000 pages. This material encompasses reports related to murder and other violent acts, photographs, witness statements, and medical records.
Cuniff also noted that one of Durk’s co-defendants, Asa “Boogie” Houston, has expressed opposition to the trial’s postponement, while another co-defendant, Deandre Dontrell Wilson, may be contemplating a plea deal.
In a previous ruling, prosecutors outlined the reasons behind Durk’s continued denial of bond as he awaits trial. They highlighted a pattern of “criminal behavior and interference,” as well as his failure to comply with the rules at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Los Angeles. Notably, the prosecution stated that Durk repeatedly violated guidelines by engaging in three-way calls, despite clear instructions against such actions.
A hearing held shortly before the New Year saw the judge siding with the prosecution, thus denying Durk’s request for bond. Additionally, prosecutors have introduced information alleged to connect the rapper to the murder of an alleged Chicago gang leader, a case distinct from the murder-for-hire charges for which he is currently incarcerated.
Newly unsealed court documents suggest that Durk (real name Durk Banks) financially supported the January 2022 shooting of Stephon Mack, who was reportedly the leader of the Smashville faction of the Gangster Disciples. This attack is believed to have been an act of retribution for the murder of Durk’s brother, Dontay “DThang” Banks, who was killed outside a nightclub in Harvey, Illinois in 2021.
Federal agents disclosed in a filing that “Lil Durk was and still is offering money for people to kill those responsible for his brother’s murder, and more specifically, offering to pay money for any Gangster Disciple that is killed.” Although Durk has not been charged in connection with Mack’s murder, police sources have indicated that the investigation is ongoing.
Stay tuned for further updates as this case unfolds.
