US musician D4vd has pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder in the death of a teenage girl who vanished last year. The star, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke, is accused of murdering 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose decomposing remains were found in September in a Tesla registered to his Texas address.
Burke, 21, also was charged with murder for financial gain and with the murder of a witness to an investigation, as stated by the Los Angeles district attorney. He did not speak during his arraignment on Monday, his first court appearance since his arrest last week; his lawyers entered his plea on his behalf.
In court, Burke's defense team expressed belief that the evidence will support their argument for his innocence, echoing statements made after his arrest last week. Their commitment to vigorously defend Burke was reiterated by his attorneys. Following a prolonged period of speculation about the case, a palpable tension surrounded the courtroom ahead of the hearing, especially when the parents of the victim entered.
Prosecutors detailed the charges against Burke: first-degree murder with special circumstances of lying in wait, as well as allegations of murder for financial gain and the murder of a witness regarding previous sexual acts involving the victim. The Los Angeles County District Attorney hinted at the possibility of seeking the death penalty in light of the severe nature of the charges.
Burke, who initially gained fame through his music, was arrested without bail and has faced immense public scrutiny since the discovery of Rivas Hernandez's remains. The circumstances surrounding the case, including the delayed identification of the cause of death due to the condition of the body, have led to considerable media coverage and speculation.
