Lil Durk denied bail in murder-for-hire trial over jail phone calls

Lil Durk has been denied bail by a federal judge while he awaits trial on murder-for-hire charges. The Los Angeles Times reports that the judge cited a report that Durk violated prison rules by using other inmates’ phone accounts to make outside calls.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Patricia Donahue said the rapper had shown “a disrespect for the rules,” by using 13 other inmates’ phone accounts at L.A.’s Metropolitan Detention Center.

In his defense, Durk’s attorney Drew Findling argued that he didn’t “see it as an issue” that would prevent his release and stated that other inmates were guilty of the same rule breaking.

U.S. Attorney Ian Yanniello told the judge that the defense had not provided adequate reason why the decision to detain Durk should be overturned. Referencing the jail calls, Yanniello said Durk “will not follow the rules.”

Durk is accused of ordering the murder of fellow rapper Quando Rondo, real name Tyquian Bowman, in Los Angeles in 2022. Durk has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Last week, an indictment filed by prosecutors removed prior references to lyrics it was alleged Durk had used to commercialize the Rondo’s death. Findling had argued that the song the lyrics in question pertained to was released eight months prior to Bowman’s death.

During this week’s hearing, which took place on May 8, Findling said it was “provably false” that his client had “monetized and celebrated the death at the heart of this case.”

Durk’s trial is scheduled to begin on October 14.