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A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge found probable cause to send the case against musician David Anthony Burke, known as D4vd, to a full trial after prosecutors spent five days presenting witness testimony and photographic evidence from the investigation. BBC outside court as judge rules singer D4vd will face murder trial captured the moment the ruling was delivered, with North America correspondent Shaimaa Khalil inside the courtroom for the proceedings. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said his office had shown only a small fraction of its evidence during the preliminary hearing, expressing confidence that the standard for moving forward had been met. The 21-year-old performer, who has pleaded not guilty to all counts, was escorted from the courtroom in custody following the decision by Judge Charlaine Olmedo.
The criminal complaint includes special circumstance allegations of murder of a witness, murder for financial gain and murder by means of lying in wait, along with personal use of a sharp instrument as a deadly weapon, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Prosecutors have alleged that Burke stabbed the teenager before dismembering her body after years of sexual abuse that dated back to when she was under the age of 14. The district attorney’s office announced the capital murder charges against Burke in April 2026, noting that the case could carry the death penalty if convicted on the special circumstances. Officials have described the evidence as including graphic details of the crime scene and communications between the singer and the victim.
Celeste Rivas Hernandez’s decomposed remains were discovered in the front trunk of a Tesla registered to Burke’s address after the vehicle was impounded in September 2025, Reuters reported in its coverage of the preliminary hearing. Investigators testified that Burke had invited the 14-year-old to his Hollywood Hills home on April 23, 2025, and that text messages showed discussions of pregnancy and abortion, according to ABC News accounts of the testimony. A detective told the court that the last message sent by Burke to the victim was dated April 26, 2025. The hearing featured at-times graphic presentations that included crime-scene photos and forensic links, such as plastic fragments on the victim’s clothing traced to a pool at the defendant’s residence.
Burke’s breakout success as a major-label recording artist under the name D4vd, which featured hits that amassed billions of streams before his arrest, was cut short by the case, a Reuters assessment of his career noted. The singer first gained prominence through TikTok, where his music resonated with millions of listeners, before signing with a major label for wider release. Industry observers had tracked his rapid rise in the alternative R&B and pop scenes prior to the charges being filed last year. His arraignment on the full charges is now scheduled for Aug. 31 in downtown Los Angeles.
Defense attorneys maintained throughout the hearing that the evidence would ultimately demonstrate Burke did not commit the crimes, according to statements relayed in court coverage by multiple outlets including the New York Times. The preliminary hearing drew sustained media attention, with live updates from local stations and national networks tracking each day of testimony. Prosecutors methodically built their presentation over several days before the judge determined there was sufficient cause for trial. Burke has remained held without bail since his initial court appearances earlier this year.
A trial is expected to begin within 90 days of the August arraignment date, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office has indicated in its public filings on the matter. The case has drawn scrutiny over both the celebrity element and the details surrounding the death of a minor, prompting wider discussion of safety measures for young fans in the music industry. Officials have continued to urge anyone with additional information to come forward as preparations for the trial advance.
