The singer D4vd, facing charges in the murder of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas, chose not to speak during the court proceedings. He mostly stayed behind his legal team while asserting his intention to contest the charges.
In court, D4vd’s attorneys—Blair Burke, Marilyn Bednarski, and Regina Peter—shielded him from view as the judge detailed the accusations against him. D4vd, whose real name is David Burke, appeared in black clothing with his hands restrained.
Throughout the hearing, he remained silent, but his lawyers insisted on his innocence regarding all allegations.
The charges were formally declared just hours earlier by Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman.
Also present at the arraignment were Rivas’ family members, including her parents, Jesus Rivas and Mercedes Martinez, alongside her sister, Jennifer Martinez Hernandez.
D4vd, 21, has been charged with first-degree murder, which includes special circumstances like ambush, murder of a witness in an investigation, and murder for financial gain.
Additional charges include engaging in lewd conduct with someone under 14 and the mutilation of human remains.
The conditions related to the murder of a witness arise from Rivas’ status as a witness in an investigation concerning alleged inappropriate conduct.
Officials explained that the murder-for-financial-gain circumstance stems from D4vd’s concern that potential allegations regarding sexual relations with minors could harm his music career.
Rivas was reportedly killed “on or about April 23” and her body was dismembered nearly two weeks later, as per a criminal complaint obtained by the California Post.
Blair Burke, D4vd’s lead lawyer, was seen at the courthouse prior to the arraignment. Notably, he has previously represented various high-profile Hollywood figures, including Lindsay Lohan and Mel Gibson.
Shortly after the discovery of Rivas’ dismembered remains in a Tesla in September, police apprehended Burke after staff at a towing company noticed a foul odor.
Documents from a Texas court reveal that insects were found on her body, which had led her family to report her missing in April.
Finally, authorities arrested him on a Thursday. “We kept a close watch on him, and once we found probable cause for the murder charge, we pursued the arrest quite aggressively,” stated Lt. Scott M. Williams, commander of the L.A. Police Department’s Robbery-Homicide Division.
