Singer D4vd's private lawyers withdraw from murder case

Singer D4vd, legally known as David Anthony Burke, entered a new not guilty plea on Monday to charges of murdering, sexually abusing and dismembering 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. At the same hearing, his prominent private attorney Blair Berk and colleagues Marilyn Bednarski and Regina Peter were granted permission by the court to withdraw from the case.

The attorneys said only that the judge approved their withdrawal after determining Burke qualified for a court-appointed lawyer. They declined to explain the reasons for their departure, saying they continued to support Burke's defense. It remains unclear how the singer, who reportedly earned at least $10m from his music between 2023 and 2025, met the financial criteria for a public defender. The public defender's office said it had conducted a thorough financial evaluation confirming his eligibility, without providing further detail.

Deputy public defender Walid Kandeel has now taken over the defense. Judge Charlaine F Olmedo denied his initial request to delay the arraignment, instead requiring Burke to enter his plea on Monday. A status conference has been scheduled for October, though no trial date has been set. Such a second arraignment is standard procedure following a five-day evidentiary hearing in July, after which the judge found sufficient evidence for the case to proceed to trial on charges including murder, continuous lewd acts with a child under 14, and unlawful mutilation of human remains.

Burke faces potential eligibility for the death penalty, though district attorney Nathan Hochman said after the hearing that his office had not yet decided whether to pursue it. He added that the change in legal representation would not affect the prosecution's approach, though it could delay proceedings.

Prosecutors allege Burke fatally stabbed Celeste in April last year after she threatened to expose sexual abuse that began when she was 13, fearing it would derail his rising music career just before his debut album's release. According to prosecutors, Burke arranged a car to bring her to his house the following night and stabbed her upon her arrival. Celeste's dismembered remains were discovered in the trunk of Burke's car in the Hollywood Hills in September, while he was away on tour.