Lil Durk Allegedly Faces Another Trial Set-Back Over 2021 Phone Evidence

BY Gabriel Bras Nevares
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Lil Durk Trial Set Back 2021 Phone Evidence
Oct 4, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Rapper and singer Lil Durk performs during halftime of the game between the Chicago Fire and Inter Miami CF at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Jon Durr-USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect
Lil Durk's murder-for-hire trial has faced a lot of evidence controversy so far involving his music, videos, and text messages.

Lil Durk is about to begin his murder-for-hire trial in just about a week, and there are still a lot of developments affecting its projected course. As shared by DJ Akademiks on Twitter, a new ruling from the judge in this case allowed for a phone police seized from Durk back in 2021 to enter as evidence for the trial.

Ak shared a video from Trap Lore Ross outside a recent hearing's courthouse sharing the alleged news update. The phone reportedly stems from a home invasion incident the rapper suffered in 2021. Police allegedly had probable cause to seize his phone for investigation purposes, possibly due to him firing shots in the air during the incident.

Ross claimed the Georgia Bureau of Investigation tried to access the phone, but couldn't get everything on the device due to lock features. Durk and his legal team argued the phone's five-year detention means it shouldn't enter as evidence due to how authorities allegedly gathered it improperly.

The judge reportedly sided with the prosecution, but left the door open when it comes to the phone's information that authorities were not able to find. This would reportedly require another deliberation and ruling to admit as evidence. According to Trap Lore Ross, the contents on the phone is "damning" concerning alleged targeting and tracking regarding Lul Timm, screenshots of Quando Rondo's concert posters within a few days of a shooting, and more.

How Much Time Is Lil Durk Facing?

If convicted, Lil Durk could face a maximum sentence of life in prison over these federal murder-for-hire charges. He pleaded not guilty to the allegations against him.

This is the latest in Lil Durk's evidence saga, as prosecutors and defense lawyers have also clashed over admitting music, videos, and other material as evidence in the trial. So far, things have not been promising for The Voice's team, as the judge approved of the song "Pissed Me Off" becoming evidence.

Elsewhere, Durk's legal team is fighting for expression. Prosecutors recommended a gag order, which the defense believes would unfairly silence their arguments. Soon enough, all of these updates will manifest into the trial's inception on Thursday, August 20.

About The Author
Gabriel Bras Nevares is a staff writer for HotNewHipHop. He joined HNHH while completing his B.A. in Journalism & Mass Communication at The George Washington University in the summer of 2022. Born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Gabriel treasures the crossover between his native reggaetón and hip-hop news coverage, such as his review for Bad Bunny’s hometown concert in 2024. But more specifically, he digs for the deeper side of hip-hop conversations, whether that’s the “death” of the genre in 2023, the lyrical and parasocial intricacies of the Kendrick Lamar and Drake battle, or the many moving parts of the Young Thug and YSL RICO case. Beyond engaging and breaking news coverage, Gabriel makes the most out of his concert obsessions, reviewing and recapping festivals like Rolling Loud Miami and Camp Flog Gnaw. He’s also developed a strong editorial voice through album reviews, think-pieces, and interviews with some of the genre’s brightest upstarts and most enduring obscured gems like Homeboy Sandman, Bktherula, Bas, and Devin Malik.