US singer D4vd's celebrity lawyers withdraw from murder case

What the report says

US singer D4vd, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke, will now be represented by a public defender in the murder case over the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, according to BBC World News. His celebrity legal team said the court approved their withdrawal from the case, leaving the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office to take over his defence.

Burke, 21, has pleaded not guilty in Los Angeles to charges including first-degree murder, mutilation of human remains and child sexual abuse. A judge last month ruled that he must stand trial. Prosecutors have also alleged special circumstances tied to financial gain, which could expose him to the death penalty if convicted.

BBC reported that Hernandez’s remains were found in September 2025 in a Tesla registered to Burke’s address. Prosecutors say he killed her after years of sexual abuse and then dismembered her body. In court, evidence discussed during the preliminary hearing included messages attributed to Hernandez and allegations that she went to Burke’s Hollywood home in an Uber he arranged before the killing.

The case remains in its pretrial phase, with the next hearing set for 19 October. The change in representation adds another step in a closely watched case involving a high-profile musician, serious felony charges and allegations that could carry the most severe punishment under California law.