D4vd’s Celebrity Defense Team Exits Los Angeles Murder Case as the Singer Gets a Public Defender Before an October Hearing
LOS ANGELES, CA — US singer D4vd will now be represented by a public defender after the high-profile lawyers originally hired for his murder case stepped away. A Los Angeles judge approved the withdrawal of attorneys Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski and Regina Peter, and the county public defender’s office has taken over the defense.
D4vd, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke, is accused in the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. He pleaded not guilty in Los Angeles court on Monday, and a pretrial hearing is scheduled for Oct. 19. The change in counsel comes after a judge ruled last month that the case should go to trial.
What prosecutors say happened
Prosecutors allege Burke stabbed Hernandez and later dismembered her body after years of sexual abuse. They also say the killing was tied to financial gain, a claim that could make him eligible for the death penalty if the case reaches that stage.
Investigators found Hernandez’s remains in September 2025 inside a Tesla registered to Burke’s address. Earlier court proceedings also included a detailed look at messages prosecutors say Hernandez sent on April 22, 2025, when she threatened to expose his relationship with a minor and damage his career. The following day, prosecutors say, she traveled to Burke’s Hollywood home in an Uber he had arranged.
Why the defense shift matters
Berk, who led the original team, has represented clients including Mel Gibson, Harvey Weinstein, Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan. In a statement, the lawyers said the court allowed them to withdraw because Burke qualified for appointed counsel, and they said they still support him and his defense.
Deputy public defender Walid Kandeel said Burke deserves a defense that carefully weighs the evidence and takes his circumstances seriously. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said his office is ready to move ahead, while also acknowledging the lawyer change could slow the case, force more evidence review or lead to a motion to dismiss.
What comes next in court
Burke returned to court on Monday so the murder count and the related charges could be read formally again before he re-entered his not guilty plea. Those charges include first-degree murder, mutilation of human remains and child sexual abuse.
The October hearing is likely to be the next major checkpoint as the public defender’s office gets up to speed. For now, the case remains centered on the same disputed facts: prosecutors’ allegations about motive and violence, and the defense’s effort to challenge the evidence before trial.
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