D4vd’s murder case took a turn after his attorneys withdrew, leaving a public defender to handle his defense. The 21-year-old singer, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke, also pleaded not guilty and is due back in court on October 19.
The change came after the court determined Burke qualified for appointed counsel. His former attorneys did not explain why they could no longer represent him, leaving questions about his finances.
D4vd is now represented by a public defender and returns to court on October 19
According to TMZ, attorneys Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski, and Regina Peter told the judge they could no longer represent Burke. The Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office subsequently took over after the court determined he qualified for appointed counsel.
The attorneys later told the outlet, “This morning the court granted our request to withdraw as counsel and appointed the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office, after it was determined David qualified for appointed counsel.”
They also stressed that their departure did not mean they had abandoned Burke. “We continue to support David and his defense against these serious charges,” they said. “We are grateful that the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office has taken over the representation.”
The financial question was particularly notable because Burke reportedly earned at least $11 million from his Interscope record deal. Still, there were few public signs of lavish spending before his arrest.
The singer reportedly lived in a rental home and had not displayed an extravagant lifestyle. It remained unclear how much of his reported fortune was still available for his defense.
The attorney change followed Burke’s recent arraignment in the case involving Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Prosecutors accused him of killing the 14-year-old, while his defense maintained his innocence.
Burke pleaded not guilty again as the case continued toward trial. His next court appearance is scheduled for October 19.
It also remained unclear whether the change in representation would affect the eventual trial schedule. For now, the biggest question involves more than Burke’s legal strategy. His move from a high-profile defense team to a public defender has also left his financial situation under scrutiny.
Originally reported by Vanshika Vasundhare Singh on Mandatory.
