Coverage spread: 2 sources — 1 left · 1 international
Lean ratings via AllSides / Media Bias-Fact-Check. How this works.
Where they agree
- D4vd’s celebrity lawyers Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski and Regina Peter withdrew from the case and were replaced by the LA County Public Defender’s Office after a judge found him eligible.
- Burke pleaded not guilty on Monday to murder, child sexual abuse and mutilation of human remains charges related to the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
- Prosecutors allege Burke stabbed Celeste after she threatened to expose sexual abuse and damage his music career; her remains were found in a Tesla registered to him.
- DA Nathan Hochman said his office is ready to proceed with the case but acknowledged the lawyer switch could cause delays.
Where they differ
- The Guardian highlights the unresolved contradiction of Burke earning at least $10m from 2023-2025 yet qualifying for a public defender, calling it unclear; BBC mentions the financial angle less prominently.
- BBC includes more detail on Berk’s celebrity client list (Mel Gibson, Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan) and specifies a pre-trial hearing date of October 19, which The Guardian does not state.
- The Guardian notes Burke is eligible for the death penalty and that Hochman’s office is still deciding whether to pursue it; BBC frames the death penalty eligibility around “special circumstances linked to financial gain” without detailing the DA’s decision status as explicitly.
- BBC includes a direct quote from new attorney Kandeel emphasizing commitment to Burke’s defense, while The Guardian pairs Kandeel’s sympathy statement with more emphasis on the financial-eligibility question.
Singer D4vd, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke, lost his private celebrity defense team on Monday during a Los Angeles court hearing where he re-entered a not guilty plea to charges of murdering, sexually abusing and dismembering 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. He is now being represented by the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office after a judge found he qualified for court-appointed counsel.
Why did D4vd’s lawyers withdraw from the case?
The reason has not been made public. Attorneys Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski and Regina Peter said only that the judge granted their request to withdraw after determining Burke qualified for appointed counsel, and they declined to answer further questions outside the courtroom. Their joint statement said they “continue to support David and his defense against these serious charges” and expressed confidence in the public defender’s office taking over. Berk is a well-known lawyer to A-list clients, having represented Harvey Weinstein, Mel Gibson, Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon and Ozzy Osbourne.
How does a musician who earned millions qualify for a public defender?
This is the case’s most puzzling detail. Testimony from Burke’s money handlers at an earlier hearing indicated he earned at least $10 million from his music between 2023 and 2025. Public defenders are meant for clients who cannot afford private counsel, and it remains unclear how Burke met that threshold. The public defender’s office said only that it conducted a “thorough financial evaluation” and found him eligible, without disclosing details.
What happened at Monday’s hearing?
Deputy public defender Walid Kandeel, Burke’s new attorney, asked to delay the arraignment, but Judge Charlaine F Olmedo denied the request and required Burke to enter a plea that day. He pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, continuous lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14, and unlawful mutilation of human remains. Olmedo scheduled a status conference for October; other reporting cites a pre-trial hearing date of October 19. No trial date has been set. This second arraignment followed a five-day evidentiary hearing in July, after which Olmedo ruled there was sufficient evidence for Burke to stand trial.
What are prosecutors alleging?
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said his office remains “ready to proceed” and to “prove all three charges beyond a reasonable doubt,” regardless of the defense change, though he acknowledged the switch could delay proceedings, require more time to review evidence, or lead to a motion to dismiss. Prosecutors allege Burke stabbed Celeste to death in April 2025 after she threatened to expose sexual abuse and to destroy his music career by revealing his relationship with a minor. Evidence presented at the preliminary hearing included threatening messages Celeste sent Burke on April 22, 2025, tied to arguments over his friendship with another girl. Celeste’s remains were found in September 2025 in a Tesla registered to Burke’s address. The murder charge carries special circumstances linked to financial gain, which could make Burke eligible for the death penalty; Hochman said his office has not yet decided whether to pursue it.
What has the new defense attorney said?
Kandeel said in a statement that his office recognizes “the loss of life underlying the allegations” and extends sympathy to those grieving, while stressing that Burke “is entitled to a defense that takes his circumstances seriously and carefully examines the evidence.” He said his team is committed to providing that defense.
Why this case has drawn attention
Burke, 21, performs as D4vd and built a prominent music career before the allegations surfaced. The case has drawn scrutiny both for the severity of the charges — murder, child sexual abuse and mutilation of remains — and for the unusual circumstance of a millionaire musician being deemed eligible for a public defender. The abrupt exit of a defense team with a track record representing major celebrities adds another layer of uncertainty to a case that already lacks a scheduled trial date.
Sources
Featured photo: AskeeaeWiki via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)