Singer D4vd Switches to Public Defender in Celeste Rivas Hernandez Murder Case
David Burke, known as D4vd, has replaced his private legal team with an LA County public defender ahead of a potential death penalty decision. Burke faces three charges in the murder of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
D4vd Loses Private Counsel, Enters Not Guilty Pleas in Teen Murder Case
Singer David Burke — known professionally as D4vd — appeared Monday in a Los Angeles courtroom wearing an orange jumpsuit, replacing his high-profile private defense attorneys with a public defender after apparently exhausting his funds, NY Post Metro reports.
Celebrity attorney Blair Berk told the judge that Burke was seeking representation from the Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office and requested permission for herself and attorney Marilyn Bednarski to withdraw from the case. When the judge asked Burke whether that was his wish, he replied: "Yes, your honor."
The court granted the withdrawal after determining that Burke qualified for appointed counsel. Berk's team handed its case files over to the incoming public defenders.
Burke's new attorney immediately sought a delay in his arraignment, but the judge denied the request and entered not guilty pleas on Burke's behalf to all three charges. A status conference was scheduled for Oct. 19.
In a statement released after the hearing, Berk, Bednarski, and attorney Regina Peter said: "This morning the court granted our request to withdraw as counsel and appoint the Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office, after it was determined David qualified for appointed counsel. We continue to support David and his defense against these serious charges. 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."
Death Penalty Decision Still Pending
The change in legal representation comes as Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman weighs whether to seek the death penalty should Burke be convicted. Hochman addressed reporters outside the courthouse shortly after Monday's hearing, saying the decision is one he will make personally as District Attorney, but that it has not yet been reached.
Hochman said he had been waiting for a mitigation packet from Berk's team outlining reasons why Burke should not face execution, but had not received it. He indicated he would allow the new public defender time to submit such a packet if counsel chooses to do so.
Graphic Preliminary Hearing Evidence
A preliminary hearing held roughly five weeks ago produced some of the case's most damaging testimony. Photographs of Rivas' dismembered body were displayed in court, and autopsy evidence was presented alongside text messages that prosecutors say show Burke had gotten Rivas pregnant when she was 13 years old.
Rivas' parents, Jesus Rivas and Mercedes Martinez, were present in the courtroom during the first day of the hearing as images of their daughter's decapitated and mutilated body were shown. The couple were later seen crying in a courthouse hallway after viewing photographs of her severed limbs, head, torso, and fingers — evidence prosecutors say was discovered in the trunk of Burke's Tesla.
Rivas was 14 years old at the time of her alleged killing. Burke, prosecutors allege, stabbed her to death, then dismembered her body and placed it into bags before loading them into the vehicle.
Autopsy Findings
Deputy Medical Examiner Grant Ho testified that Rivas' body weighed just 71 pounds at the time of autopsy. "The body was markedly decomposed," Ho said, adding that there was "trauma to the body, particularly the extremities." He also noted that Rivas' braces were found during the examination.
Ho identified two wounds on the victim's body — one on the right abdomen and one on the chest. The abdominal wound punctured Rivas' liver and was consistent with "sharp force injury." The chest wound, Ho said, may "represent a gunshot wound," though that conclusion was not definitive.
The medical examiner testified that the chest wound could have been fatal by allowing air to enter the chest cavity, while the liver wound could have caused life-threatening internal bleeding.
Text Messages Reveal Pregnancy at Age 13
The final days of the preliminary hearing centered on text messages alleged to show that Rivas was 13 when she underwent an abortion. Prosecutors said the messages show Burke and Rivas discussing a pregnancy in January 2024, when Burke was 18.
In one exchange, Burke allegedly wrote: "I'm sorry again baby i didnt want to ever put you through this." Rivas allegedly replied: "No its ok. Don't worry both of us are able to take care of it." She later added: "Don't worry about it my love."
The two then appeared to discuss timing. "When you gonna get it done?" Burke allegedly asked. In a separate message, he also questioned his paternity, writing: "My mom said I have to ask this question, don't get offended, but is it mine?" Rivas allegedly responded: "Of course it is David."
Messages from the following day, Jan. 9, 2024, allegedly indicated the abortion had taken place.
Trial Expected to Surface New Evidence
Burke's trial is expected to run significantly longer than the five-day preliminary hearing. DA Hochman has told reporters to expect evidence that has not yet been made public.
Source: NY Post Metro