US singer D4vd, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke, has had his celebrity lawyers step down from his upcoming murder trial. The 21-year-old faces serious charges related to the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose remains were discovered in September 2025 inside a Tesla registered to his address. Burke entered a plea of not guilty to the murder charges in a Los Angeles court, and a judge has ruled that he will stand trial. Prosecutors allege that Burke stabbed the teen after a long history of sexual abuse, then dismembered her body. A pre-trial hearing is scheduled for October 19. Burke’s former legal team—comprising Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski, and Regina Peter—told the BBC that the court had approved their request to withdraw from the case. They stated that the Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office had been appointed to represent Burke. The lawyers said that D4vd "qualified for appointed counsel" and expressed appreciation for the public defender's team, describing them as "highly capable and committed." Walid Kandeel, a deputy public defender, said in a statement that Burke is entitled to a defense that thoroughly examines the evidence and considers his circumstances. He emphasized that the public defender's office is committed to providing strong representation. Meanwhile, Los Angeles County’s top prosecutor, Nathan Hochman, said his office is prepared to continue with the case against Burke. He acknowledged that the change in legal representation might cause delays or require additional time to review the evidence, but he added that his team is ready to face any "zealous representation" from the defense. Burke has already pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder, mutilation of human remains, and child sexual abuse. He returned to court to have the charges formally read and re-entered his plea. The murder charges include special circumstances linked to financial gain, which could make Burke eligible for the death penalty. Prosecutors claim that Burke killed Hernandez because she had threatened to expose his relationship with a minor and destroy his multi-million-dollar music career. During the preliminary hearing, evidence was presented showing that Hernandez had made threats against Burke on April 22, 2025, following arguments about his friendship with another girl. One message from Hernandez, filled with strong language, stated, "I swear to GOD I will kill u," and included threats to strangle him, tell her father lies about Burke, and damage his career. The next day, Hernandez arrived at Burke's Hollywood home via an Uber he had arranged to pick her up. Prosecutors allege that Burke stabbed her upon her arrival.