D4vd's Celebrity Lawyers Quit; Public Defender Steps In

Musician David Anthony Burke, known as D4vd, will now be represented by a public defender after his celebrity legal team withdrew from his murder trial. The court granted the request of lawyers Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski, and Regina Peter to step down, appointing the Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office to represent Burke.

Burke, 21, has pleaded not guilty to charges including first-degree murder and mutilation of human remains, stemming from the September 2025 discovery of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez's remains in a Tesla registered to his address. Prosecutors allege he stabbed the teen following years of sexual abuse.

A pre-trial hearing is scheduled for October 19. The district attorney acknowledged that the change in defense counsel could potentially delay proceedings. Burke had previously entered a not guilty plea to all charges, including special circumstances related to financial gain, which could carry the death penalty.

Prosecutors claim the murder occurred after Hernandez threatened to expose their relationship and damage his career. Evidence presented included texts from Hernandez expressing threats against Burke. She was reportedly killed shortly after arriving at his Hollywood home in an Uber sent by him.