Singer D4vd, who is accused of murdering 14-year-old Celeste Rivas, remained silent while he mostly hid behind his team of lawyers as he pled to charges in the teen girl’s slaying.
D4vd’s three attorney’s, Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski and Regina Peter blocked the courtroom’s view of the disgraced singer while the judge announced the charges against him. D4vd, real name David Burke, was dressed in dark clothing with his hands in cuffs.
Burke did not say a word during the hearing, but his lawyers entered a plea of not guilty to all charges.
The arraignment comes only hours after the charges against the performer were formally announced by Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman.
Rivas’s parents, Jesus Rivas and Mercedes Martinez were on hand for the arraignment, as was her sister Jennifer Martinez Hernandez.
D4vd, real name David Burke, was charged with first-degree murder with special circumstances — lying in wait, murder of a witness to an investigation and murder for financial gain.
He’s also charged with lewd and lascivious sexual acts with an individual under 14 years old, and mutilating the human remains of a body.
The special circumstance of murder of a witness to an investigation is because Rivas was a witness in the lewd-and-lascivious investigation.
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Officials say the murder for financial gain circumstance was added because they believe D4vd thought allegations of sexual relations with a minor could derail his music career.
The criminal complaint obtained by The California Post says that Rivas was murdered “on or about April 23rd” and dismembered nearly two weeks later.
Burke’s high powered attorney Blair Berk was seen roaming the courthouse halls before the arraignment with a team of lawyers.
The hot shot lawyer has a storied past representing some high profile Hollywood trouble makers — including Lindsey Lohan, Mel Gibson, Britney Spears, Harvey Weinstein and Kanye West.
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Berk was retained by the singer shortly after Rivas’ dismembered corpse was found in his Tesla in September when tow yard staff detected a foul odor.
Insects were found swarming over her remains, according to documents unsealed in a Texas court. She had previously been reported missing by her family in April.
Police finally made an arrest on Thursday, “We did the best we can to keep tabs on him, but once we developed probable cause to arrest him for murder, then we were on him pretty diligently,” LAPD Robbery-Homicide Division Commanding Officer Captain Scot M. Williams told The Post.
