LOS ANGELES (GNP): A preliminary hearing began this week in the murder case against musician David Anthony Burke, known professionally as D4vd, as prosecutors presented evidence to Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Charlaine Olmedo aimed at establishing sufficient grounds to proceed to trial.
Burke, 21, has been charged with first-degree murder, mutilation of a corpse, and child sexual abuse in connection with the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges, which carry the possibility of the death penalty.
According to testimony from Los Angeles Police Department Detective Joshua Byers, the victim’s remains were discovered in September 2025 inside a Tesla sedan registered to Burke, after the vehicle was towed to a Hollywood impoundment lot and workers reported an odor from the trunk. Deputy District Attorney Beth Silverman presented the court with evidence, including items prosecutors say Burke purchased online under a fictitious name in the days following the killing.
Prosecutors allege the relationship between Burke and Hernandez began when she was 11 years old, and that he killed her on April 23, 2025, after she threatened to make details of their relationship public. Financial manager Benjamin Greger testified that Burke earned between 10 million and 11 million dollars from 2023 to 2025, including proceeds from a recording contract with Interscope Records.
Defense attorney Blair Berk has maintained her client’s innocence, stating at his April arraignment that the evidence would show Burke was not responsible for Hernandez’s death.
District Attorney Nathan Hochman told reporters outside the courthouse that prosecutors intend to call more than ten witnesses over the course of the hearing, which is expected to last three to five days, and that a decision on whether to pursue the death penalty would be made at a later date.
Burke rose to prominence through music shared on TikTok and content associated with the video game Fortnite, later signing a multimillion-dollar deal with Interscope Records following the success of his single “Romantic Homicide.” His debut album was released in April 2025, the same week prosecutors say Hernandez was killed.
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The case has drawn significant international attention given Burke’s public profile and the disturbing nature of the allegations. The preliminary hearing stage, in which prosecutors must demonstrate sufficient evidence for the case to proceed to trial, has already produced substantial testimony from law enforcement and financial witnesses, suggesting prosecutors are presenting a detailed and methodical case ahead of any trial.
The unusually rapid scheduling of the hearing, given that Burke was arrested only in April, reflects both the volume of evidence gathered by investigators and reported efforts by the defense to challenge the prosecution’s case early rather than allow the proceedings to extend over a longer period, as is more typical in cases of this severity
Managing Editor at Global News Pakistan (GNP), with a Bachelor's degree in International Relations from Riphah International University, graduated with a Gold Medal. Reach out at sabahtareengnp@gmail.com
