Entertainment

Singer D4vd's private attorneys withdraw as he re-pleads not guilty to murder

The Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office took over the case after the court found the 21-year-old musician qualified for appointed counsel.

Updated Aug 31, 2026 · 19:26 UTC4 reports

The short version

High-profile private attorneys representing musician David Anthony Burke, known as D4vd, withdrew from his murder case during a Los Angeles court hearing on Monday.
The Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office took over Burke's defense after a financial evaluation found he qualified for court-appointed counsel.
Judge Charlaine F. Olmedo denied a defense request to delay the proceeding and entered not guilty pleas to charges including first-degree murder, child sexual abuse, and mutilation of human remains.
Burke's trial could begin within 90 days of an upcoming status conference scheduled for Oct. 19, while prosecutors continue to evaluate whether to seek the death penalty.

Defense attorneys Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski, and Regina Peter withdrew from representing David Anthony Burke, and Deputy Public Defender Walid Kandeel was assigned to his case.[NBC News · Associated Press · BBC News]
Burke qualified for a public defender following a financial evaluation by the court and the Public Defender's Office.[Associated Press · BBC News]
Judge Charlaine F. Olmedo rejected a request from Burke's new defense counsel to postpone the arraignment, entering not guilty pleas to all charges on Burke's behalf.[NBC News · Associated Press · CBS News]
Burke faces charges of first-degree murder with special circumstances, continuous lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14, and unlawful mutilation of human remains in the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez.[Associated Press · CBS News · BBC News]
Rivas Hernandez's dismembered remains were discovered on Sept. 8, 2025, in the trunk of a Tesla registered to Burke at a Hollywood tow yard.[NBC News · Associated Press · CBS News · BBC News]
District Attorney Nathan Hochman stated that his office is still deciding whether to seek the death penalty if Burke is convicted.[Associated Press · CBS News]
The court set a status conference for Oct. 19, 2026.[NBC News · Associated Press · CBS News · BBC News]

The specific reasons behind the withdrawal of Burke's private defense attorneys remain unstated by both the court and the legal team.[Associated Press · CBS News]
It is not publicly detailed how Burke financially qualified for a public defender despite earning substantial music revenue in previous years.[Associated Press]
The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office has not yet determined whether it will pursue the death penalty in the case.[Associated Press · CBS News]