Judge clears D4vd for trial after preliminary hearing; defense strategy shifts
Judge clears D4vd for trial after preliminary hearing; defendant switches to public defense.
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D4vd Murder Trial Los Angeles
21-year-old recording artist D4vd faces first-degree murder, child sexual abuse, and body mutilation charges in Los Angeles for the alleged April 2025 death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Evidence includes text messages documenting an illegal sexual relationship beginning when the victim was 13, receipts for body disposal tools, and forensic analysis. The case is in pretrial status with death penalty consideration.
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2026-09-01 to 2026-11-07 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 1 Sept, 03:16 UTC
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What happened
D4vd drops high-powered defense attorneys for public defender
On August 31, 2026, D4vd requested that Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Charlaine Olmedo allow him to replace his private attorneys Blair Berk and Marilyn Bednarski with the Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office. The judge granted the request after determining Burke qualified for appointed counsel. Berk and Bednarski did not explain the reason for the switch, but court records suggested financial constraints.
D4vd pleads not guilty to all charges
D4vd entered not guilty pleas to all three charges against him during his August 31, 2026 court appearance. A status conference was scheduled for October 19, 2026, and a trial date has not yet been set.
D4vd argument with victim preceded alleged killing
The night before police believe Celeste Rivas Hernandez was killed, she and D4vd had an argument. Rivas told Burke she would 'end ur career and ur life I will damage anything.' At the time, Burke was signed to a multimillion-dollar recording deal with Interscope Records and his debut album was set to release that week, which prosecutors cited as motive for the alleged murder.
Public defender Walid Kandeel appointed to represent D4vd
Following the court's approval, the Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office took over representation of D4vd, with public defender Walid Kandeel assigned to the case. The office stated in a Monday statement that it is 'committed to providing' Burke with his constitutional right to a defense while recognizing the loss of life underlying the allegations.
Preliminary hearing presented graphic evidence in D4vd case
A five-day preliminary hearing in July presented graphic evidence against D4vd, including years of text messages detailing his sexual relationship with the victim, receipts for tools potentially used for body disposal, forensic analyses showing blood in his garage, and graphic autopsy photos of Rivas' dismembered remains. The medical examiner testified the victim's body showed trauma to the extremities and weighed only 71 pounds at autopsy.
Prosecutors allege D4vd dismembered victim's body with chainsaw
Prosecutors presented evidence that D4vd used a chainsaw to sever the limbs of Celeste Rivas Hernandez in his garage. He allegedly attempted to collect blood in a kiddie pool and amputated two of her fingers to hide evidence of matching tattoos they shared. Receipts showed online orders for tools that could be used for body disposal.
Text messages show D4vd impregnated victim at age 13
Text messages presented at a preliminary hearing revealed that D4vd impregnated Celeste Rivas Hernandez when she was 13 years old. The messages from January 2024, when Burke was 18, showed him discussing and arranging an abortion with Rivas. Burke questioned whether he was the father, and Rivas confirmed: 'Of course it is David.'
LA District Attorney will decide whether to seek death penalty
Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman is expected to make a decision on whether to seek the death penalty against D4vd if he is found guilty. Hochman has told the media to expect additional evidence not yet seen beyond what was presented at the preliminary hearing.
Judge ruled sufficient evidence to proceed to trial in D4vd case
Following the five-day preliminary hearing, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge ruled that prosecutors presented sufficient evidence, including graphic photos and text messages, to move the case forward toward trial. The judge found probable cause to proceed despite the defense team's efforts to challenge the prosecution's theory.
Singer D4vd charged with murder of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez
David Anthony Burke, known as the singer D4vd, was charged with first-degree murder, child sexual abuse, and mutilating a body in connection with the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Prosecutors allege Burke stabbed Hernandez to death in April 2025 after she threatened to expose their illegal sexual relationship. Her decomposed body parts were discovered in September in an abandoned Tesla registered to Burke.
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2 alternative perspectives
Prosecutors present evidence in alleged murder of teenager
D4vd charged with murder; prosecutors present evidence of alleged dismemberment and prior relationship.