Lil Durk will not take the witness stand in his federal murder-for-hire trial, with the rapper’s defense officially resting its case as one of the most closely watched trials in hip-hop moves toward closing arguments and jury deliberations.

Durk, whose legal name is Durk Banks, declined to testify in his own defense before his attorneys rested their case Thursday, Sept. 3, in federal court in Los Angeles. His two co-defendants currently standing trial alongside him, Deandre “OTF Dede” Wilson and David “Browneyez” Lindsey, also chose not to testify.

Both sides have now finished presenting evidence. Closing arguments are scheduled to begin Tuesday, Sept. 8, after which U.S. District Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald is expected to instruct jurors on the law before the case moves into deliberations.

Durk has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him and faces the possibility of life in federal prison if convicted.

Durk Chooses Not to Take the Stand

The decision means jurors will decide Durk’s case without hearing testimony directly from the Chicago rapper.

A criminal defendant has a constitutional right not to testify, and jurors are not permitted to treat that decision as evidence of guilt. Instead, Durk’s attorneys have attempted to make their case through cross-examination of government witnesses and testimony from witnesses called by the defense.

The defense moved quickly after prosecutors rested. Nine witnesses were called Thursday, including people from Durk’s personal and professional circles. Among them were Kevin Freeman of Durk’s Neighborhood Heroes organization, Shekema “Queen Kema” Springfield, the mother of one of King Von’s children, former Alamo Records executive Sanchay “Dharmic” Jain and Lashawntay Hester, the wife of cooperating government witness Kacey “OTF Jam” Hester.

Their testimony formed part of a broader defense strategy aimed at separating Durk from the alleged murder plot and challenging the credibility and interpretation of evidence presented by prosecutors.

Defense Points Away From Durk

Federal prosecutors allege Durk orchestrated