Singer D4vd faces murder trial in LA after lawyers withdraw, public defender steps in
D4vd's private legal team quit his murder case; a public defender now represents the singer charged with killing 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
D4vd's legal team quits murder case as Los Angeles trial looms
Singer D4vd, charged with the murder of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, appeared in a Los Angeles courtroom Monday without his high-profile defence lawyers after they withdrew from the case, Google News MT — Crime (en) reports. Public defender Walid Kandeel has stepped in to represent the 21-year-old, whose real name is David Anthony Burke.
Blair Berk, Marilynne Bednarski and the rest of their team were granted a formal withdrawal, though no reason was provided for their departure. Kandeel immediately requested that Monday's arraignment be postponed, but the judge declined. Burke once again entered a not-guilty plea to charges of murder with special circumstances, sexual abuse of a child under 14, and unlawful mutilation of human remains.
"We recognise the loss of life underlying the allegations and extend our sympathies to those who are grieving," Kandeel said in a statement. "At the same time, David Burke is entitled to a defence that takes his circumstances seriously and carefully examines the evidence. We are committed to providing him with that defence."
Burke's next court date is scheduled for 19 October.
Death penalty still on the table
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman told reporters after the hearing that the change in representation would not affect the prosecution's readiness.
"As soon as the defence announces 'ready to proceed,' the DA's office is ready to proceed," Hochman said.
Hochman confirmed that a death penalty sentence remains a possibility, noting that his office had given Burke's former attorneys an opportunity to submit a mitigation packet arguing against that route — paperwork that was never returned before they withdrew.
"The district attorney's office is ready to proceed to prove all three charges beyond a reasonable doubt, leading, eventually, to a sentence of life without the possibility of parole, or if we so choose, the death penalty," Hochman said. He added that the decision had not yet been made, and that his office would give new counsel additional time to submit such a packet.
Legal analyst Lou Shapiro said Monday's developments point to financial strain. "The fact that there wasn't a different private attorney today to substitute in for the previous private counsel — those factors point to an issue of finances for him," Shapiro said.
Plea deal unlikely, analyst says
With Burke now relying on a public defender, speculation has turned to whether a plea agreement is more probable. Legal analyst Neama Rahmani dismissed that possibility.
"There is no death penalty in California. There's a moratorium. We haven't had an execution in 20 years, and unless Steve Hilton wins and overturns that moratorium, I think the chance of a plea deal is almost none," Rahmani said.
The evidence against Burke
Prosecutors allege that Burke killed Celeste Rivas Hernandez last year because he feared she would expose their sexual relationship and damage his music career. Her dismembered body was found in the trunk of his Tesla at a Hollywood tow yard last September.
Former prosecutor turned defence attorney Joshua Ritter said the premeditation element of the charge is likely to be the prosecution's hardest task. The defence, however, faces a steeper challenge of its own.
"I think the biggest challenge for the defence is that we're at a point where there is no one else so clearly linked to this crime but him," Ritter said. "So unless he is able to present some other suspect that is viable enough to bring that up at trial, or some alternate theory as to how the murder took place… that might be what they're left with by the time we get to trial."
Ritter also noted that without eyewitnesses or a confession, the prosecution's case rests heavily on circumstantial evidence — including Burke's alleged purchase of a chainsaw and the location where Celeste's body was discovered. Physical evidence alone does not necessarily prove premeditation or murder, Ritter cautioned.
Last month, a judge ruled there was sufficient evidence to order Burke to stand trial, following days of testimony at a preliminary hearing.
Family disputes public defender eligibility
According to earlier testimony in the case, Burke earned at least $10 million over the course of his music career. Public defenders are available only to defendants who cannot afford private legal representation, and the fact that Burke now qualifies has drawn criticism from Celeste's family.
In a statement, the family argued that Burke is not genuinely indigent but is instead concealing assets through corporate structures. They pointed to his billions of streams and the size of his monthly listener base on music streaming platforms.
"The residents of Los Angeles County should be outraged because it will be the taxpayers that are picking the tab to defend this millionaire," the family's statement read in part. "Perhaps he would have money if he just asked one of his corporations, or if he had not fraudulently transferred assets to his mother/manager Colleen Burke."
The family issued a further statement expressing that they seek justice for Celeste.
If convicted on all charges as filed, Burke faces life in prison.
Source: Google News MT — Crime (en)