Singer D4vd changed legal representation on Monday, August 31, 2026, as his defense team withdrew from his Los Angeles murder case. Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office attorneys stepped in after the court determined the 21-year-old artist qualified for appointed counsel.
The legal transition unfolded during a court hearing on Monday morning, August 31, 2026, where the singer—born David Anthony Burke—pleaded not guilty to charges including first-degree murder with special circumstances, lewd and lascivious sexual acts with an individual under 14 years old, and the mutilation of human remains. Attorneys Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski, and Regina Peter informed the court that they could no longer represent the artist, prompting the immediate appointment of the public defender’s office.
Defense Withdrawal and Financial Realities at the Los Angeles Courtroom
The departure of Burke’s private counsel marks a turn in proceedings. While his former legal team did not specify a reason for stepping down during the hearing, subsequent statements underscored a shift in his financial status. As noted in reporting on the court appearance, the artist qualified as indigent despite previously earning at least $11 million from his Interscope record deal.
“This morning the court granted our request to withdraw as counsel and appointed the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office, after it was determined David qualified for appointed counsel.”
Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski, and Regina Peter, former defense attorneys
The former defense attorneys added in their statement that they remain supportive of their client and expressed confidence in the incoming public defense team. Deputy Public Defender Walid Kandeel entered the courtroom gallery before being called forward to take over representation alongside a team of investigators.
Case Background, Charges, and Autopsy Findings
The prosecution’s case centers on the September 2025 discovery of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez’s dismembered remains inside the front trunk of an impounded Tesla registered to Burke. According to details from the indictment, authorities allege the murder occurred in April 2025 inside Burke’s garage after the teenager threatened to expose their relationship ahead of his debut album release.
An autopsy report released by the County of Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner on April 22 established the victim’s official cause of death as two penetrating wounds
to her right abdomen and left chest. Prosecutors previously presented digital paper trails, autopsy photographs, and forensic DNA evidence during a five-day preliminary hearing in July that confirmed the case would proceed to trial.
Trial Timeline and the Ongoing Death Penalty Decision
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman addressed reporters outside the courthouse following Monday’s arraignment, detailing the next steps in the legal process. A pre-trial hearing is scheduled for October 19, which will initiate a 90-day window for the court to schedule a trial date if the defense is ready to proceed.
Hochman acknowledged that the transition to a public defender could prompt requests for additional time to review evidentiary files or file motions to dismiss charges. Regarding potential penalties, prosecutors have maintained that a conviction could carry a sentence of life without parole, while a final decision on pursuing the death penalty remains pending.
“The district attorney’s office is ready to proceed to prove all three charges beyond a reasonable doubt, leading eventually to a sentence of life without the possibility of parole, or if we so choose, the death penalty.”
Nathan Hochman, Los Angeles County District Attorney
The district attorney’s office is currently waiting on a mitigation packet from the defense before determining whether to seek capital punishment. Hochman noted that such packets typically outline a defendant’s background, life experiences, and expert or familial commentary for the state to weigh.
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