D4vd Pleads Not Guilty To Teen's Murder, Sex Crimes; Seeks Fast Trial
Deadline • • general
Key Points:
- Singer D4vd, real name David Anthony Burke, pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and continuous sexual abuse charges in the dismembered killing of teen Celeste Rivas Hernandez, with the death penalty possible.
- Defense attorney Blair Berk requested a fast-tracked preliminary evidentiary hearing and criticized the lack of discovery, while the prosecution stated they have voluminous evidence and are ready to present it.
- LA County DA Nathan Hochman cited special circumstances, including lying in wait, murder for financial gain, and killing a witness, as grounds for pursuing the death penalty against D4vd.
- Hernandez, 13 at the time, was last seen going to D4vd’s home before her decomposed body was found in the trunk of a Tesla registered to the singer eight months later.
- Judge Theresa McGonigle ordered the release of Hernandez’s autopsy report, currently sealed, with the medical examiner’s office expecting to receive the necessary court paperwork by Tuesday.
