Los Angeles – Indie‑pop singer David Anthony Burke, who records under the name D4vd, appeared before Los Angeles County Judge Charlaine F. Olmedo on Monday and entered a new not‑guilty plea to charges that he killed, sexually abused and dismembered 14‑year‑old Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
At the hearing, Burke’s longtime private attorneys – Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski and Regina Peter – formally withdrew from the case. The attorneys said the judge granted their request after determining that Burke qualified for a court‑appointed lawyer. “We continue to support David and his defense against these serious charges,” the statement read, though the lawyers declined to comment further.
Public defender takes over
The Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office appointed Deputy Public Defender Walid Kandeel to represent Burke. The office said it completed a thorough financial evaluation and found Burke eligible for a public defender, despite his reported earnings of at least $10 million from music between 2023 and 2025.
Judge Olmedo denied Burke’s request to delay the arraignment and set a status conference for October. No trial date has been scheduled. The judge previously ruled, after a five‑day evidentiary hearing, that there is sufficient evidence for Burke to stand trial on murder, continuous lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14, and unlawful mutilation of human remains. The district attorney’s office, led by Nathan Hochman, said it is still deciding whether to seek the death penalty.
Background of the case
Prosecutors allege that Burke stabbed Rivas Hernandez in April 2025 after she threatened to expose ongoing sexual abuse that began when she was 13. Text messages reportedly show the teen warning Burke, “I will end your career and your life.” The next night, prosecutors say Burke sent an Uber for her, and when she entered his home, he stabbed her. Her phone went silent at that moment.
Rivas Hernandez’s dismembered body was discovered in the trunk of Burke’s Tesla in the Hollywood Hills in September 2025. The prosecution presented what it called “mountains of evidence” at the July hearing, while Burke’s former lawyers argued the evidence was insufficient.
Public reaction and next steps
Both the district attorney and the new public defender emphasized that the case will proceed regardless of the change in counsel. “We recognize the loss of life underlying the allegations and extend our sympathies to those who are grieving,” Kandeel said, adding that Burke is entitled to a defense that carefully examines the evidence.
The case remains under close watch as it moves toward trial, with the community awaiting further developments.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
