The famous lawyers hired to represent American musician D4vd in his upcoming murder trial have withdrawn from his case. The star, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke, has been appointed public defender to prepare his defense for the murder of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernández, whose remains were found in September 2025 in a Tesla registered to his address. Burke, 21, pleaded not guilty to murder charges in a Los Angeles court on Monday. A judge determined last month that he will be tried for murder. Prosecutors have claimed he stabbed the teenager after years of sexual abuse, before dismembering her body. The pretrial hearing is scheduled for October 19. Lawyers Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski and Regina Peter said in a statement to the BBC that the court granted their request to withdraw from the case and appointed the Los Angeles County Public Defender to represent the singer. The statement said D4vd “qualified to be 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 representation and that David has a highly capable and committed team of attorneys and investigators behind him.” Berk, who led the defense team, has previously represented American actor Mel Gibson and movie 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 you with that defense,” he said.
