Lawyers withdraw as counsel for singer known as D4vd in murder trial of 14-year-old girl
Blair Berk, left, and Marilyn Bednarski, right, are pictured with their former client David Anthony Burke, whose stage name is D4vd. He’s charged with murdering a 14-year-old girl with whom he allegedly had a sexual relationship. (Photo by Ted Soqui/Getty Images)
A singer known as D4vd, who was charged with killing a 14-year-old girl found in the trunk of his Tesla, is now being represented by a public defender.
In a statement released Monday, David Anthony Burke’s former defense team said the court found that Burke qualified for appointed counsel and granted private counsel’s request to withdraw, the Los Angeles magazine posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Blair Berk and Regina Peter—a partner and an associate at Berk Brettler in West Hollywood, California—and Marilyn Bednarski—a partner at McLane Bednarski & Litt in Pasadena, California—are listed on the statement.
Burke is being tried in the Los Angeles County Superior Court for the murder of Celeste Rivas Hernandez. He allegedly had a sexual relationship with the girl and was afraid that she would make his relationship public, ABC 7 New York reports. He’s also charged with unlawful mutilation of human remains and has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Burke is now represented by Walid Kandeel, an attorney at the Los Angeles County public defender’s office. The court denied his request to postpone Burke’s arraignment, according to coverage by NBC News.
“We recognize the loss of life underlying the allegations and extend our sympathies to those who are grieving. At the same time, David 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,” Kandeel said in a statement.
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