D4vd Murder Trial Lawyers Withdraw: Public Defender Appointed in LA Case

• Singer David Anthony Burke, known as D4vd, is now represented by a public defender in his murder trial.
• His previous private legal team, including Blair Berk, withdrew after the court found Burke qualified for appointed counsel.
• Burke is charged with the murder and unlawful mutilation of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose body was found in his Tesla.
• He has pleaded not guilty to all charges in the Los Angeles County Superior Court.
• The court denied a request to postpone Burke's arraignment following the counsel change.

The court's finding that Burke qualified for appointed counsel indicates a determination regarding his financial eligibility for state-funded legal assistance, a common occurrence even in cases attracting significant public attention.

David Anthony Burke, the recording artist known as D4vd, is now being represented by a public defender in his ongoing murder case, which is moving towards trial. This significant David Anthony Burke counsel change follows the withdrawal of his previous private legal team, who had been representing him in the high-profile case. Burke faces charges stemming from the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose body was discovered in the trunk of his Tesla. Burke has been formally charged with murder and unlawful mutilation of human remains. Authorities allege that he had a sexual relationship with the young girl and that his motive for the crime stemmed from a fear that she would publicly expose their relationship. He has entered a plea of not guilty to all charges in the Los Angeles County Superior Court.

The withdrawal of the initial legal team, which included prominent attorneys Blair Berk and Regina Peter from Berk Brettler in West Hollywood, California, alongside Marilyn Bednarski of McLane Bednarski & Litt in Pasadena, California, was confirmed in a statement released on Monday, August 31, 2026. According to the statement, which was shared by Los Angeles magazine on X (formerly Twitter), the court determined that Burke met the qualifications for appointed counsel, subsequently granting the private lawyers' request to withdraw from the case. Following this criminal defense counsel withdrawal, Burke's defense is now being handled by Walid Kandeel, an attorney with the Los Angeles County public defender’s office. Despite the change in representation, the court denied a request to postpone Burke’s arraignment, a detail reported by NBC News. Kandeel issued a statement acknowledging the gravity of the allegations and extending sympathies to those grieving, while affirming his commitment to providing Burke with a thorough and serious defense that carefully examines the evidence.

The transition from a high-profile private defense team, including Blair Berk D4vd representation, to the Los Angeles D4vd public defender's office underscores the procedural aspects of legal representation in serious criminal cases. The court's finding that Burke qualified for appointed counsel indicates a determination regarding his financial eligibility for state-funded legal assistance, a common occurrence even in cases attracting significant public attention. This development in the Celeste Rivas Hernandez murder trial highlights the complexities inherent in such proceedings, where the right to a robust defense is paramount regardless of the defendant's financial standing or the nature of the accusations. The public defender's immediate commitment to a comprehensive defense, despite the court's decision to proceed with the arraignment without delay, sets the stage for the next phases of this closely watched case, with a trial date yet to be set.

This development highlights the procedural aspects of counsel withdrawal in high-profile criminal cases, particularly regarding client qualification for appointed counsel and the court's discretion in scheduling. Lawyers should note the implications for case strategy and public relations when transitioning between private and public defense teams.

Source: Original reporting via Los Angeles magazine and NBC News