JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The long-awaited murder trial of Jacksonville rapper Hakeem Robinson, known as “Ksoo,” faces another potential delay.
Robinson, 26, appeared in court Thursday for a pretrial hearing related to the 2020 shooting death of 23-year-old Charles “Lil Buck” McCormick Jr. and the 2019 shooting death of 16-year-old- Adrian “Lil Bibby” Gainer Jr.
Recommended Videos
Originally set to begin in March, the trial may be postponed to the summer. Both prosecutors and defense attorneys have requested a continuance due to delays in deposing experts and witnesses.
Judge Tatiana Salvador expressed her frustration with the timeline, stating, “This is a 2020 case. We are literally coming up on five years. Y’all have had five years.”
The court is expected to reconvene next Wednesday to set a final trial date.
RELATED | Attorney for Jacksonville rapper ‘Ksoo’ may seek civil suit due to alleged jail conditions
In recent court appearances, Robinson’s living conditions at the Duval County jail have been a focal point. In December, a post on Robinson’s Instagram account alleged mistreatment at the jail, claims that have been repeatedly addressed in court.
Robinson was previously held on the 6th floor of the jail, which houses the psych ward, and juveniles, and serves as a disciplinary confinement area. It remains unclear if Robinson was under investigation for misconduct.
Robinson’s attorney, Chris DeCoste, has voiced concerns about the impact of Robinson’s confinement on trial preparations.
“Right now, our client is still held there, all of my public records requests asking for the reason why has been shot down, so I’m moving to the next step with that,” DeCoste stated to the court back in January.
DeCoste recently confirmed with News4Jax’s Briana Brownlee that Robinson has been moved back to the general population.
“No evidence has been presented supporting isolation right before trial, which makes it seem like it was done to gain an unfair advantage,” he stated.
When asked about a potential lawsuit, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) responded, “If they wish to pursue a civil case, that is their prerogative and right to do so. We are unable to comment on any civil litigation,” said Officer Maximo Morel Sepulveda. “As stated previously, Robinson is still under investigation. He also continues to be in ‘isolation,’ however, he has been moved from the 6th floor to the 4th floor. Please understand the 6th floor is not a ‘mental health’ floor.”
Robinson is scheduled to return to court next Wednesday as the legal proceedings continue.
