D4vd lawyers challenge police testing of evidence found in singer’s home
Defense attorneys question LAPD criminalist on third day of hearing to decide whether singer will stand trial
Attorneys for the singer D4vd scrutinized how law enforcement officials chose to test evidence found in his home during the third day of a hearing to determine whether he will stand trial for murder and child sexual abuse.
Prosecutors say D4vd, born David Anthony Burke, fatally stabbed 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez last year to prevent her from exposing the sexual nature of their relationship amid his rising profile in the music world.
Burke has pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder, “lewd and lascivious acts” with a child under 14, and mutilation of human remains.
Earlier in the week, prosecutors presented evidence that possible traces of blood were detected in areas of Burke’s former Hollywood Hills residence and his Tesla.
On Thursday, defense attorney Blair Berk questioned Lauren Wallace, a criminalist for the Los Angeles police department, about why certain items, including chainsaws located in the musician’s garage, were not tested.
Berk appeared to suggest that another individual’s DNA could have been detected.
“You were aware that multiple people lived at this residence, right?” she asked Wallace, in reference to the Hollywood Hills address, where the singer resided.
“Yes, we were aware,” Wallace said.
The exchange previewed how Burke’s lawyers might aim to poke holes in the prosecution’s case should it proceed to trial.
On Wednesday, Sean Buenrostro, a California highway patrol officer, testified about a Caltrans worker finding a passport bearing Rivas Hernandez’s name and photograph in January 2026 on a dirt embankment off State Route 154 in Santa Barbara. Buenrostro arrived on scene after the worker called law enforcement about the identification card.
During cross-examination, defense attorney Regina Peter appeared to cast doubt on possible theories of how the passport landed there: “Did you do anything to rule out the possibility that the card arrived there by means of some sort of storm or weather issue?” she asked.
Prosecutors brought a detective to the stand on Thursday who testified that cellular data and a Tesla system showed Burke traveled to the area where Rivas Hernandez’s passport was discovered.
The hearing is expected to conclude by early next week.
The Associated Press contributed reporting
About the Author
Think about it: earlier in the week, prosecutors presented evidence that possible traces of blood were detected in areas of Burke’s former Hollywood Hills residence and his Tesla. That speaks volumes.
In other words earlier in the week, prosecutors presented evidence that possible traces of blood were detected in areas of Burke’s former Hollywood Hills residence and his Tesla. Curious to see how this develops.
In other words berk appeared to suggest that another individual’s DNA could have been detected. Curious to see how this develops.
Reading that earlier in the week, prosecutors presented evidence that possible traces of blood were detected in areas of Burke’s former Hollywood Hills residence and his Tesla — hard to argue with the logic there.
The bigger issue here is burke has pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder, “lewd and lascivious acts” with a child under 14, and mutilation of human remains. That changes the calculation.
Still waiting to hear what Hollywood Hills actually plans to do about it.
The bigger issue here is “You were aware that multiple people lived at this residence, right?” she asked Wallace, in reference to the Hollywood Hills address, where the singer resided. That changes the calculation.