During opening statements in Lil Durk’s murder-for-hire trial, prosecutors revealed cooperating witnesses, included OTF Jam and two men who Durk allegedly hired to kill Quando Rondo.
On Monday (Aug. 24), prosecutors delivered their opening statements at the Los Angeles federal courthouse, where they claim Lil Durk was the ringleader who ordered members of his Only the Family (OTF) label crew to kill Quando Rondo in retaliation for King Von’s death in 2020. Von was killed by Lul Timm, a friend of Quando’s, on Nov. 6, 2020. Two years later, when the men tried to kill Quando in an ambush at a Los Angeles gas station, he survived, but his cousin, Saviay’a “Lul Pab” Robinson, was killed in the crossfire.
Digital creator Melanie Goolsby, who’s popular for the I’m Not a Lawyer But… series and covering the Durk trial, reported on X that prosecutors have confirmed that cooperating witnesses Kacey “OTF Jam” Hester, Kavon “OTF Vonni” Grant and Keith Jones will testify in the trial. Prosecutors also revealed that they have unseen footage of multiple attempts to kill Quando Rondo.
Grant and Jones are the alleged hitmen, along with Deandre Dontrell Wilson, David Brian Lindsey and Asa Houston, who has been severed from this trial. Durk is on trial with Wilson and Lindsey.
Shortly after Durk was arrested in October of 2024, rumors surfaced that OTF Jam may have been instrumental in Durk getting popped. He reportedly gathered information for the feds by wearing a wire in order to skate charges in a 2023 gun case.
According to MyLANews.com, assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Weiner reportedly told the jury, “This case is not about music—it’s about murder,” and added that Durk was consumed with revenge and was pressured from fans to avenge the death of King Von.
The defense in their opening arguments insisted that Durkio was neither involved in the murder of Rondo’s cousin nor present during the shooting. Banks’ attorney Marissa Goldberg shifted the blame for the murder plot on co-defendant OTF Vonni, the Chicago rapper’s personal assistant, who pleaded guilty to murder and agreed to cooperate with the government against Durk.
As the trial continued, YouTuber Charles Ross (a.k.a. Trap Lore Ross) and other attendees— including rapper MGK—reportedly viewed gruesome footage of Robinson’s fatal shooting. Prosecutors additionally presented horrific autopsy photos revealing the victim’s gunshot wounds to his bicep and heart.
Lil Durk’s trial will resume on Tuesday (Aug. 25).
Read Melanie Goolsby’s Coverage of Opening Statements at Lil Durk’s Murder-for-Hire Trial
Watch Trap Lore Ross’ Coverage from Day 3 of Lil Durk’s Murder-for-Hire Trial
Watch Moe Gangat’s (@lawyerforworkers) Reporting From Lil Durk’s Murder-for-Hire Trial
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This article was originally published on www.xxlmag.com.
