In a major development in a high-profile Los Angeles criminal case, the team of high-profile celebrity attorneys that was set to defend rising US musician D4vd, legally known as David Anthony Burke, has formally withdrawn from the 21-year-old artist’s upcoming capital murder trial. The 21-year-old performer, who faces horrific charges including first-degree murder, sexual abuse of a minor, and mutilation of human remains, has now been assigned a court-appointed public defender from the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office to lead his defense.
Burke is accused of killing 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez in April 2025. Hernandez’s remains were discovered last September inside a Tesla registered to an address linked to Burke. Prosecutors have laid out a disturbing narrative alleging that after years of ongoing sexual abuse, Burke stabbed the teenager to death and dismembered her body to cover up the abuse. They argue the killing was motivated by financial and professional self-preservation: Hernandez had threatened to expose her underage relationship with Burke, a move that would have destroyed his multi-million-dollar music career. The case carries special circumstances tied to this alleged motive that make Burke eligible for the death penalty if convicted.
During a preliminary hearing held last month, court officials reviewed evidence of threatening text messages Hernandez sent to Burke days before her death. On April 22, 2025, amid an argument over Burke’s friendship with another minor, Hernandez sent a profanity-laden message reading, “I swear to GOD I will kill u,” followed by threats to strangle him, lie to her father about his actions, and “end ur career and ur life.” Prosecutors say that the day after these threats were sent, Burke arranged for an Uber to pick up Hernandez and bring her to his Hollywood home, where he allegedly carried out the killing.
Last month, a judge ruled that there was sufficient evidence to move forward with a full murder trial. During Monday’s court proceeding, charges were formally read to Burke, and he formally re-entered his not guilty plea to all counts. The three lead defense attorneys — Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski, and Regina Peter — confirmed their exit from the case in an official statement shared with the BBC, noting that the court had granted their request to withdraw and that Burke meets eligibility requirements for court-appointed counsel.
Berk, the lead attorney on the original team, is one of the most well-known criminal defense attorneys in the entertainment industry, having previously represented high-profile clients including actor Mel Gibson, disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein, pop icon Britney Spears, and actress Lindsay Lohan. In their statement, the outgoing legal team reaffirmed their support for Burke, saying, “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.”
Walid Kandeel, a deputy public defender now leading the defense, emphasized the core right to counsel in the American justice system in an official statement. “Burke is entitled to a defense that takes his circumstances seriously and carefully examines the evidence,” Kandeel said, adding, “We are committed to providing him with that defense.” A pretrial hearing to outline next steps for the case is scheduled for October 19, with a full criminal trial expected to begin at a later date.