Lil Durk’s father speaks out as rapper’s murder-for-hire trial continues

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES () — Jurors in the murder-for-hire trial of rapper Lil Durk heard additional testimony as the case entered its second week.

Tuesday marked day nine of the trial involving Lil Durk, whose legal name is Durk Banks. Prosecutors allege Banks orchestrated the attempted murder of fellow rapper Quando Rondo. The 2022 shooting at a gas station in Beverly Hills killed Rondo’s cousin instead.

On Monday, one of the admitted gunmen testified that Banks set the whole thing up.

On Tuesday, defense attorneys sought to introduce a video from a podcast interview featuring Banks as evidence. In the interview, the rapper said, “I’m trying to turn all the hate to love.”

Defense attorneys argued that prosecutors had used clips from the same interview to support their case. The judge denied the request.

Outside the courthouse, Banks’ father, Dontay Banks, criticized the decision and said the full interview should be considered.

“You supposed to be a system that’s looking for the truth. You supposed to be a system that’s representing the United States of America. Bring the truth out, you know,” Dontay Banks said.

Dontay Banks knows firsthand what his son faces. He spent 26 years in prison on drug charges.

“This has been really tough on the family. To see our son going through this is really hard, you know,” he said. “We lost one of them to gun violence.”

He added: “What I went through for the last 26 years I don’t wish that on my worst enemy. Definitely not my son.”

Despite the charges and ongoing trial, Banks said he envisions walking out of court with his son as a free man.

“Every time I look at him in court, I see that day,” he said. “That day is coming.”