D4vd, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke, 21, pleaded not guilty on Monday to charges arising from the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose remains were found in... The post Singer D4vd’s private lawyers withdraw from teen’s murder case appeared first on Tribune Online .
Celebrity lawyers representing US musician D4vd have withdrawn from his murder case, with the court appointing the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office to take over his defence.
D4vd, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke, 21, pleaded not guilty on Monday to charges arising from the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose remains were found in September 2025 in a Tesla registered to his address.
A Los Angeles judge had last month ruled that Burke would stand trial for murder.
Burke has also been charged with first-degree murder, mutilation of human remains and child sexual abuse. He returned to court on Monday, where the charges were formally read and he re-entered his not guilty plea.
His lawyers, Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski and Regina Peter, said in a statement to the BBC that the court had granted their request to withdraw from the case after determining that Burke “qualified for appointed counsel”.
“We continue to support David and his defence against these serious charges,” they said.
“We are grateful that the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office has taken over the representation and that David has a highly capable and committed team of attorneys and investigators behind him.”
Berk, who led Burke’s defence team, has previously represented US actor Mel Gibson, film producer Harvey Weinstein, singer Britney Spears and actress Lindsay Lohan.
Deputy public defender Walid Kandeel said Burke was “entitled to a defence that takes his circumstances seriously and carefully examines the evidence”.
“We are committed to providing him with that defence,” he said.
Los Angeles County’s top prosecutor, Nathan Hochman, said outside court on Monday that his office was “ready to proceed” with the case against Burke.
Hochman, however, acknowledged that the change in legal representation could delay the proceedings, require additional time for the new defence team to review evidence or lead to the filing of a motion to dismiss the case.
He said his office was prepared for “zealous representation” by Burke’s new defence team.
Prosecutors have alleged that Burke killed Hernandez after she threatened to expose their relationship and potentially damage his music career.
During the preliminary hearing, evidence presented in court included messages allegedly sent by Hernandez to Burke on April 22, 2025, following arguments over his friendship with another girl.
The prosecution alleged that Hernandez subsequently travelled to Burke’s Hollywood home in an Uber he had sent to pick her up.
According to prosecutors, Burke stabbed Hernandez after she arrived at the property.
The murder charges include special circumstances linked to financial gain, which could potentially make Burke liable for the death penalty if he is convicted.
Burke has denied the allegations by pleading not guilty while a pre-trial hearing has been scheduled for October 19.
(BBC)
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