LOS ANGELES, Calif. (Diya TV) — A key hearing in the murder case against singer D4vd is set to begin Tuesday in Los Angeles. The proceeding marks the first time prosecutors and defense lawyers will present evidence and witness testimony in open court. The hearing could shape the future of one of the entertainment industry’s most closely watched criminal cases.

D4vd, whose legal name is David Burke, faces several serious charges, including first-degree murder, sexual abuse of a child and unlawful mutilation of human remains. Authorities arrested him in April after a months-long investigation. However, he has pleaded not guilty to every charge.

The preliminary hearing is expected to last between three and seven days. During that time, prosecutors must convince the judge that enough evidence exists to move the case to trial. If the judge finds probable cause, the case will continue through the California court system.

According to prosecutors, Burke began a sexual relationship with Celeste Rivas Hernandez in 2023. They allege he was 18 at the time while she was 13. Prosecutors also claim Rivas Hernandez threatened to expose the relationship if Burke refused to remain exclusive to her. They argue that those events created a motive for the alleged killing.

Court documents state that Burke arranged an Uber ride to bring Rivas Hernandez to his Hollywood Hills home on April 23, 2025. Prosecutors say that was the last time anyone saw her alive. They also note that the date came just before tickets for D4vd’s world tour were scheduled to go on sale.

Prosecutors further allege that Burke stabbed the teenager several times inside the home. They claim he then took steps to hide the crime. According to a nine-page court filing, he ordered two chainsaws through Amazon and later used them to dismember the body.

The filing also claims Burke removed Rivas Hernandez’s left ring finger and pinky finger because her ring finger carried a tattoo of his name. Investigators have not recovered those fingers, prosecutors said.

Several months later, authorities made a major discovery. Prosecutors say investigators found Rivas Hernandez’s badly decomposed remains inside two body bags in the front trunk of Burke’s Tesla in September 2025. That discovery became a central part of the investigation and led to the criminal charges filed against the singer.

Prosecutors submitted the detailed court brief shortly after Burke’s arrest. They said the filing would help the court understand the evidence and testimony expected during the preliminary hearing. As a result, the judge will review witness statements, physical evidence and other material before deciding whether the case should proceed to trial.

Meanwhile, Burke’s legal team continues to reject the allegations. During his arraignment in April, defense attorney Blair Berk asked the court to schedule the preliminary hearing as quickly as possible. She said the defense believes the evidence will show that Burke did not murder Rivas Hernandez.

Following the arrest, Berk and fellow attorneys Marilyn Bednarski and Regina Peter released a public statement. They said they plan to vigorously defend Burke and maintain that he did not cause Rivas Hernandez’s death. Burke has remained in custody without bail since his arrest.

At the same time, the victim’s family has chosen to limit public comments. Their attorney, Patrick Steinfeld, said the family will not issue additional statements because disturbing details continue to emerge during the legal process. He added that the family remains focused on grieving while also managing everyday responsibilities.

The preliminary hearing does not determine guilt or innocence. Instead, it allows the court to decide whether prosecutors have enough evidence to justify a full criminal trial. Both sides will have the opportunity to question witnesses and challenge parts of the evidence presented in court.