Recording artist David Anthony Burke will face a jury over the slaying of an adolescent girl following a recent court decision.
Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Charlaine Olmedo gave the green light for prosecutors to pursue their case against the 21-year-old performer, known professionally as D4vd. The ruling concluded a gruelling five-day preliminary review where attending relatives of the deceased watched the state call upon a dozen individuals to testify while displaying graphic photographic exhibits.
The entertainer stands accused of killing 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Authorities discovered her dismembered remains last autumn inside a Tesla tied to his Hollywood property. Currently pleading innocent to all allegations, the defendant is fighting multiple serious felony counts encompassing homicide, unlawful mutilation and the continuous sexual abuse of a minor.
State lawyers contend the singer resorted to lethal violence to stop the victim from publicly revealing their illicit involvement. They argued this exposure threatened to obliterate his multimillion-dollar entertainment career. Courtroom proceedings featured digital correspondence from spring 2025 showing intense disputes sparked by his interactions with a different female acquaintance.
Digital records indicate Hernandez sent expletive-filled warnings on April 22 threatening physical harm and professional ruin. Just 24 hours later she arrived at his residence via a ride-share service he arranged, which is exactly when investigators believe the fatal knife attack occurred.
Defence team disputes forensic findings
Representatives for the accused strongly pushed back against the state’s narrative. Defence counsel Marilyn Bednarski pointed to a glaring lack of security video proving her client was actually home during the suspected timeframe. She also emphasised that medical examiners failed to definitively explain the origin of two distinct puncture wounds discovered during the autopsy.
Police testimony further complicated the timeline. Under questioning, LAPD Detective Corey Farrell admitted reviewing messages where the teenager deceived the suspect regarding her birth year, falsely claiming to be 16 and eventually 18.
The singer’s legal advocates argued the victim’s family knew about the dynamic. They introduced evidence showing her guardians signed formal permission slips allowing the youngster to travel abroad with the musician for a week in Britain. Bednarski noted her client showed deep affection for the girl even after they separated.
Potential for capital punishment
Despite objections from the defence, the presiding magistrate concluded the district attorney offered enough probable cause to warrant a full trial. Judge Olmedo ruled the state successfully demonstrated aggravating factors including financial motivation, witness elimination and lying in wait.
Speaking outside the courtroom, District Attorney Nathan Hochman warned that the preliminary disclosures represent merely a fraction of the comprehensive case they intend to present. He confirmed his department is actively weighing whether to seek the ultimate penalty.
The defendant remains incarcerated while awaiting a formal arraignment set for August 31. Court rules dictate jury selection should begin within 90 days of that subsequent hearing.
