D4vd Pleads Not Guilty in Teen Murder Case, Switches to Public Defender

David Anthony Burke, known professionally as D4vd, has replaced his private lawyers with a public defender in the murder case of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. The trio of Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski, and Regina Peter announced on Monday that a Los Angeles judge had granted their motion to withdraw from the case. They did not disclose the reason for the change, but confirmed that the 21-year-old pop singer "qualified for appointed counsel."

Berk, Bednarski, and Peter expressed their support for D4vd and his new defense team, the Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office. Walid Kandeel, the public defender, stated that the office is committed to providing D4vd with his constitutional right to a defense. The singer is currently accused of stabbing Rivas to death in April 2025 after learning she intended to expose their illegal sexual relationship.

Prosecutors claim he subsequently dismembered her body using a chainsaw. Rivas' remains were found in an abandoned Tesla registered to D4vd in September. Despite maintaining his innocence, D4vd's legal team worked to challenge the prosecution's evidence, which included graphic photos and text messages between the accused and the victim.

However, a judge ruled that the evidence was sufficient to proceed to trial. D4vd's public defender entered a not-guilty plea during the recent hearing, with the next court appearance scheduled for October 19. A trial date has not yet been set.