US musician D4vd, legally known as David Anthony Burke, has been appointed a Los Angeles County public defender after his celebrity defense lawyers successfully withdrew from his upcoming murder trial. Burke pleaded not guilty to charges including the murder of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose remains were discovered in an impounded Tesla in September 2025.
- The Legal Shift: Defense attorneys Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski, and Regina Peter stepped down, clearing the way for the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office to take over the case.
- The Charges: Burke faces first-degree murder, sexual abuse of a child, and unlawful mutilation of human remains charges following a preliminary hearing where prosecutors alleged a motive tied to preserving his aspiring music career.
- The Timeline: A pretrial hearing is officially set for October 19, putting the 21-year-old artist on a fast track toward trial.
The Legal Realignment in a High-Stakes Hollywood Case
Defense attorney Blair Berk—who has represented figures such as Mel Gibson, Harvey Weinstein, Britney Spears, and Lindsay Lohan—alongside co-counsels Marilyn Bednarski and Regina Peter, officially stepped away from David Anthony Burke’s defense team. According to statements provided to the BBC, the court granted their request to withdraw after determining that Burke qualified for appointed counsel.
Stepping into the breach is the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office. Deputy public defender Walid Kandeel addressed the transition by emphasizing the constitutional rights at stake. Kandeel stated that Burke “is entitled to a defense that takes his circumstances seriously and carefully examines the evidence,” adding that the team is fully committed to providing that representation.
Burke, 21, remains held without bail. During a hearing on Monday, he formally entered a not-guilty plea to charges stemming from the tragic death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. The arraignment follows a rigorous five-day preliminary hearing in July where prosecutors presented extensive testimony to establish probable cause.
The Prosecution’s Case and the Timeline of Arrest
The grim contours of the case trace back to the fall of 2025. According to Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman, the investigation unspooled after law enforcement discovered the badly decomposed remains of Rivas Hernandez in two body bags located inside the front trunk of Burke’s impounded Tesla in September 2025.
Prosecutors have alleged a chilling sequence of events. Court documents and statements from the District Attorney’s office outline that Burke and Rivas Hernandez allegedly began a sexual relationship in 2023 when he was 18 and she was 13. Investigators assert that on April 23, 2025—just as tickets for his world tour were set to go on sale—the “Romantic Homicide” singer ordered an Uber that brought the teenager to his Hollywood Hills home. Prosecutors allege that Burke stabbed the teen multiple times after she threatened to expose their relationship and ruin his career, subsequently dismembering her body to conceal the crime.
Following his arrest in April, Burke initially pleaded not guilty to the charges. A judge ruled last month that he must stand trial, and District Attorney Nathan Hochman noted that a final determination regarding whether the state will seek the death penalty has not yet been finalized.
What Lies Ahead on the Court Docket
With the transition to the public defender’s office complete, the legal teams are bracing for the next procedural hurdle. A critical pretrial hearing is locked in for October 19. During this upcoming session, defense and prosecution attorneys will confirm their readiness for trial, which according to Nathan Hochman must typically move forward within 90 days.
As the judicial process moves toward its autumn benchmarks, the spotlight shifts entirely from streaming metrics and tour schedules to the courtroom at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center.
| Date / Period | Event / Milestone |
|---|---|
| 2023 | Alleged beginning of the illicit relationship between Burke and Rivas Hernandez, according to prosecutors. |
| April 23, 2025 | Last recorded sighting of Celeste Rivas Hernandez after arriving at the defendant’s Hollywood Hills home via rideshare. |
| September 2025 | Remains of the victim discovered in the front trunk of Burke’s impounded Tesla. |
| July | Five-day preliminary hearing where prosecutors presented witness testimony establishing probable cause for trial. |
| October 19 | Scheduled pretrial hearing to confirm trial readiness within the mandated window. |
How the newly appointed public defender’s office tackles the extensive evidentiary record assembled by the state will dictate the next chapter of this sobering case. Drop your thoughts on the evolving legal strategies in the comments below.
