Lil Durk remains in solitary confinement, as he has been for four months, allegedly over an Apple Watch.
The incarcerated rapper’s attorneys filed a motion on Tuesday (Jan. 6) requesting a status hearing, alleging that he’s been held “without process” in violation of federal regulations and potentially the Eighth Amendment.
In the motion, Lil Durk’s lawyer, Christy O’ Connor, says the rapper has been in the solitary confinement for 131 days without access to commissary and is only allowed one phone call each month without in-person visits.
The placement in a solitary cell came after the Chicago native was allegedly found “in possession of an unauthorized Apple Watch,” per O’Connor.
“[Lil Durk] is confined to a very small jail cell, just large enough for a single bed, a toilet, and a sink,” he continued. “The deleterious effects of extended solitary confinement on an inmate’s psychological well-being are well-documented.”
The rapper’s legal team also says that the Bureau of Prisons and Los Angeles’ Metropolitan Detention Center, where he’s being held, have given conflicting reasons for why he’s been isolated so long.
At first, an attorney allegedly said that the placement had nothing to do with Lil Durk being a celebrity, but months later, the warden allegedly told the defense team that the rapper posed a threat to the general public due to the high-profile nature of his case and potential rule violations.
To contest the solitary confinement, Lil Durk’s attorneys cited research about psychological damage that’s caused by extended exposure, including social withdrawal, anxiety, and depression.
Lil Durk’s murder-for-hire case has had its share of issues over the last few months. In October, prosecutors filed a motion seeking an anonymous jury and expressing concern for their safety due to the rapper’s “vast resources” and control over the OTF label.
Co-defendants and prosecutors this week also requested a delay that would see the trial start date pushed from Jan. 20 to May 4.
