A key prosecution witness in Lil Durk’s murder-for-hire trial faced a direct challenge to his credibility from someone who knew both him and King Von well. Shekema “Queen Kema” Springfield, who shares a son with Von, testified for the defense Thursday, calling Kavon “OTF Vonnie” Grant “a liar and a thief” while disputing his version of events following Von’s death.
Springfield told jurors she spent three days with Von’s family at the Atlanta home where his memorial was held and never saw Durk there. She also said she did not hear any discussions about retaliating against Quando Rondo. Her testimony contradicts Grant’s account that Durk was at the home and spoke about revenge after Von’s November 2020 death. Grant has become a central figure in the government’s case after testifying that Durk later directed efforts to target Rondo.
Springfield’s familiarity with Grant goes back to well before the criminal case. She testified that she and King Von lived with Grant after moving to Atlanta and that Von and Grant presented themselves as first cousins. According to courtroom reporting from Los Angeles Magazine, Grant was frequently around Von and eventually became an authorized user on his financial accounts.
Her testimony also shed light on a conversation she had with Grant after Von’s killing. Springfield said she asked him what had happened the night Von died. “He told me not to worry about it, and he was going to take care of it,” she testified, per Rolling Stone. When the defense questioned her about Grant’s honesty, she described him as “a liar and a thief.”
Durk’s attorneys also sought to raise questions about Grant’s handling of money connected to Von. During questioning, the defense suggested that roughly $300,000 may have been taken from a trust intended for Von’s son, but prosecutors objected before Springfield could elaborate. As a result, the claim remains an allegation raised by the defense, not an established fact in the case.
The broader purpose of Springfield’s testimony was evident. Durk’s attorneys have spent much of the trial trying to persuade jurors that Grant, rather than Durk, was behind the alleged revenge effort. Grant testified earlier this week that Durk told him to “put it together” when Quando Rondo was scheduled to perform in Georgia in 2021. He later described his own involvement in the 2022 Los Angeles operation that resulted in the death of Rondo’s cousin, Saviay’a “Lul Pab” Robinson. Prosecutors maintain that Durk ordered the attack in retaliation for Von’s killing. Durk has pleaded not guilty.
Both sides rested Thursday (Sept. 3), and Durk will not take the stand in his own defense. Closing arguments are set to begin Sept. 8, leaving jurors to determine how much credibility to give Grant’s testimony after the defense used its final day to call witnesses specifically to challenge his account.
