The celebrity lawyers hired to represent US musician D4vd in his upcoming murder trial have withdrawn from his case.
The star, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke, has been appointed a public defender to mount his defence for the murder of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, 14, whose remains were found in September 2025 in a Tesla registered to his address.
Burke, 21, pleaded not guilty to the murder charges in Los Angeles court on Monday.
A judge determined last month that he will stand trial for murder. Prosecutors have alleged he stabbed the teen after years of sexual abuse, before dismembering her body.
A pretrial hearing is set for 19 October.
Lawyers Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski and Regina Peter said in a statement to BBC that the court granted their request to withdraw from the case and has appointed the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s to represent the singer.
The statement said that it D4vd “qualified for appointed counsel”.
“We continue to support David and his defense against these serious charges,” they said. “We are grateful that the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office has taken over the representation and that David has a highly capable and committed team of attorneys and investigators behind him.”
Berk, who led the defence team, has previously represented US actor Mel Gibson and film mogul Harvey Weinstein, as well as singer Britney Spears and actress Lindsay Lohan.
In a statement, deputy public defender Walid Kandeel said 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,” he said.
Los Angeles County’s top prosecutor, Nathan Hochman, said on Monday outside the courtroom that his office is “ready to proceed” with its case against Burke.
He also acknowledged that the singer’s change in lawyers could delay proceedings, require additional time to review the evidence, or result in the filing of a motion to dismiss the case.
They are ready for “zealous representation” by the defence, he said.
Source: BBC
