*Musician D4vd, legally known as David Anthony Burke, pleaded not guilty Monday during his second arraignment after a judge denied a request to delay the proceeding. Public defender Walid Kandeel stepped in to represent him after his private legal team quit, ABC 7 reports.
Burke, 21, faces charges of murder with special circumstances, sexual abuse of a child under 14, and unlawful mutilation of human remains in connection with the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Authorities say her severed remains were discovered in a Tesla linked to Burke.
His former attorneys, Blair Berk and Marilynne Bednarski, along with their staff, withdrew from the case. The court did not provide a reason for the change. Kandeel requested additional time to prepare, but the judge denied the request.
Kandeel addressed the case in a statement. “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,” he said.
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Legal analyst Lou Shapiro suggested the shift in representation may be tied to financial constraints. “The fact that there wasn’t a different private attorney today to substitute in for the previous private counsel, those factors point to an issue of finances for him,” Shapiro said.
District Attorney Nathan Hochman said the change in counsel will not affect the prosecution’s approach. “As soon as the defense announces ‘ready to proceed,’ the DA’s office is ready to proceed,” he said.
Hochman has not ruled out seeking the death penalty and is awaiting a mitigation filing from the defense.
The next hearing is scheduled for Oct. 19.
MORE NEWS ON EURWEB.COM: Celeste Rivas Family Rejects Documentary Offers Amid D4vd Murder Case
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