News Summary
Rapper Hakeem ‘Ksoo’ Robinson was denied a new trial after challenging his 2020 first-degree murder conviction for the death of Charles ‘Lil Buck’ McCormick Jr. His lawyers argued that evidence used in the original trial was prejudicial. Despite this, the judge ruled that the prosecution’s failure to disclose changes in testimony was not significant enough to warrant a retrial. Robinson is also facing additional legal battles linked to gang-related crimes.
Jacksonville – Rapper Hakeem “Ksoo” Robinson was denied a request for a new trial following his 2020 murder conviction for the first-degree murder of Charles “Lil Buck” McCormick Jr. The decision came after Robinson unexpectedly returned to court on Tuesday, where his attorneys argued that crucial evidence used in the original trial was prejudicial and unrelated to the case.
Robinson was expected to be sentenced for the murder on Monday but instead postponed that process as his legal team sought to challenge the trial’s outcome. Judge Tatiana Salvador ruled against the request for a retrial, emphasizing that the prosecution’s failure to disclose an officer’s change in testimony regarding the height of the suspect was inadvertent and did not significantly affect the case.
In the same case, Robinson’s cousin, Leroy Whitaker Jr., who was convicted of first-degree murder and burglary, is also pursuing a new trial. Robinson and Whitaker have links to the gang ATK, while McCormick was affiliated with a rival gang, 6Block. The murder’s motivation was believed to stem from a diss track created by McCormick that was related to the death of Willie Addison, who was Robinson’s stepbrother.
During the trial, Robinson’s defense argued that iCloud notes admitted as evidence were prejudicial, claiming they should have been excluded. They further contended that the change in an officer’s height estimation—from initially stating the shooter was between 5’5″ and 5’9″ to later asserting a height closer to 6’4″—was not disclosed to the defense prior to the trial. Robinson stands at 6 feet, 2 inches tall, which raised significant questions about eyewitness accounts.
Despite the judge’s ruling, Robinson’s attorneys maintained that the altered testimony undermined a crucial point of their defense. They also claimed that improper visual aids and expert testimonies were used during the trial, which they felt swayed the jury’s perception of the presented evidence. In addition, they asserted that the prosecution’s use of similar demonstrative materials during jury selection had put them at a disadvantage.
Whitaker’s legal representation argued that several relevant judicial processes, such as the doctrine of Independent Act, should have been thoroughly explained to the court. They also raised concerns regarding the admissibility of a prejudicial photograph and the extent of hearsay evidence introduced during the trial.
The prosecution contended that the shooting was premeditated, with evidence suggesting that Robinson, Whitaker, and another individual, Dominique Barner, had stalked McCormick before the fatal attack. Surveillance video, witness testimonies, and the song “Ksoo Homicide” by Robinson were all presented as part of the prosecution’s argument linking Robinson to a motive for the murder.
Witnesses described the shooting, which occurred on January 15, 2020, as McCormick was leaving a temp agency in broad daylight. A silver Nissan was seen fleeing the scene shortly after the shooting. Robinson’s sister presented a defense by disputing the identification of him in surveillance footage, arguing that his physical description did not align with witness accounts of the shooter.
Ultimately, the jury deliberated for nearly four hours before reaching a guilty verdict for Robinson, while Whitaker’s jury took less than two hours. State Attorney Melissa Nelson commented on the outcome, indicating that both men were held responsible for their actions in a crime deeply intertwined with gang-related tensions. Robinson now faces further legal challenges, including another trial concerning the murder of 16-year-old Adrian “Lil Bibby” Gainer Jr.
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Additional Resources
- First Coast News: Ksoo New Trial Motion Hearing
- News4Jax: Ksoo Cousin Requests New Trials
- First Coast News: Ksoo Sentencing Set
- Wikipedia: Hakeem Robinson
- Action News Jax: Ksoo Murder Trials
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Rapper
Author: STAFF HERE JACKSONVILLE WRITER
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