![\"Celeste](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/260422-celeste-rivas-hernandez-3x2-mn-0840-df20e5.jpg\")
Celeste Rivas Hernandez.Courtesy Rivas Hernandez family<\/p>\nLOS ANGELES \u2014 D4vd and his legal team parted ways with the singer opting instead to be represented by public defenders in his high-profile murder case, he told a stunned Los Angeles courtroom on Monday.<\/p>\n
After lawyers had met with L.A. County Superior Court Judge Charlaine Olmedo in chambers, defense attorney Blair Berk emerged and told the court that her client, whose real name is David Burke, wants the public defender. <\/p>\n
\u201cIs that your wish, Mr. Burke,\u201d Judge Olmedo asked.<\/p>\n
The defendant responded, \u201cYes.\u201d <\/p>\n
The surprising turnaround came during what normally would have been a routine pre-trial hearing in this case, in which D4vd is accused of killing a 14-year-old girl, whose decaying remains were found in the trunk of his abandoned car.<\/p>\n
D4vd\u2019s new attorney, Walid Fouad Kandeel, had been seated in the gallery until Berk disclosed the change of legal teams.<\/p>\n
Judge Olmedo then asked the public defender to step forward and introduce himself to the court.<\/p>\n
The defendant\u2019s new counsel asked for Monday\u2019s arraignment to be continued to give him more time to study the case.<\/p>\n
The judge denied that request before entering not guilty pleas on behalf of the defendant, promising to give Kandeel more time to prepare if he needed it.<\/p>\n
Olmedo then ordered all parties to return to court on Oct. 19.<\/p>\n
The defendant, shackled and wearing an orange jail jumpsuit, smiled and shook hands with his now-former attorneys Berk and Regina Peter as court was adjourned. Burke will remain held in custody without bail.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis morning the court granted our request to withdraw as counsel and appoint the Los Angeles County Public Defender\u2019s Office after it was determined David qualified for appointed counsel,\u201d according to a statement from Berk.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe continue to support David and his defense against these serious charges. We are grateful that the Los Angeles County Public Defender\u2019s Office has taken over the representation and that David has a highly capable and committed team of attorneys and investigators behind him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Celeste Rivas Hernandez.Courtesy Rivas Hernandez family<\/p>\n
The Los Angeles County Public Defender\u2019s Office extended its condolences to the victim\u2019s loved ones.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe recognize the loss of life underlying the allegations and extend our sympathies to those who are grieving,\u201d the office said in a statement. \u201cAt the same time, David Burke is entitled to a defense that takes his circumstances seriously and carefully examines the evidence. We are committed to providing him with that defense.\u201d<\/p>\n
It wasn\u2019t immediately clear why Burke and his lawyers separated.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sure the Public Defender will give him a zealous representation,\u201d Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said.<\/p>\n
Judge Olmedo back <\/a>on July 27 had ordered<\/a> the 21-year-old artist to stand trial after prosecutors presented evidence at a preliminary hearing in connection to the slaying of Celeste Rivas Hernandez.<\/p>\n Burke was arrested on the afternoon of April 16 at a house on Marmont Avenue in the Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles police said.<\/p>\n Beack on Sept. 8 of last year, police found the remains of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, 14, in the trunk of a Tesla impounded at Hollywood Tow. Officers were drawn the scene after reports of a foul odor coming from the vehicle.<\/p>\n Text messages between Hernandez and the defendant say she had gotten pregnant at age 13 and had an abortion.<\/p>\n And in one exchange between the girl and the suspect in early January 2024, Burke apologized for \u201cputting her through this.\u201d<\/p>\n Madeline Morrison reported from Los Angeles and David K. Li from New York City.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"LOS ANGELES \u2014 D4vd and his legal team parted ways with the singer opting instead to be represented…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":832218,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[33],"tags":[88],"class_list":["post-832217","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-entertainment","tag-entertainment"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/832217","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=832217"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/832217\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/832218"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=832217"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=832217"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=832217"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}