US singer D4vd’s celebrity lawyers withdraw from murder case

Celebrity attorneys representing US singer D4vd, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke, have withdrawn from his upcoming murder trial. Burke, 21, has been appointed a public defender to defend him against charges of murdering 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose remains were discovered in a Tesla registered to his Los Angeles address in September 2025.

Burke pleaded not guilty to the charges in a Los Angeles court on Monday. Prosecutors allege the musician stabbed the teen after years of sexual abuse, before dismembering her body. A pretrial hearing is set for October 19. The celebrity lawyers Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski, and Regina Peter stated in a BBC statement that D4vd "qualified for appointed counsel".

They continued to support Burke and his defense against the serious charges, expressing gratitude that the Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office has taken over his representation. Burke's defense team, led by Berk, has previously represented high-profile clients including actor Mel Gibson, film mogul Harvey Weinstein, pop star Britney Spears, and actress Lindsay Lohan.

Deputy public defender Walid Kandeel emphasized that Burke is entitled to a defense that considers his circumstances and carefully examines the evidence. The murder charges carry special circumstances linked to financial gain, potentially making Burke liable for the death penalty. Prosecutors claim Burke killed Hernandez because she threatened to expose his relationship with a minor and damage his multi-million dollar music career.

Evidence from the preliminary hearing showed texts from Hernandez threatening to kill Burke and ruin his career after she discovered his friendship with another girl. On April 22, 2025, Hernandez went to Burke's Hollywood home in an Uber he sent, and prosecutors allege he stabbed her after she arrived.